Corrosion Cells and Their Components
For corrosion to occur, four essential components must be present: an anode, a cathode, a conductive path, and an electrolyte (such as moisture or another ionized medium). Removing any one of these elements can prevent corrosion. For instance, applying coatings can isolate the metal from its environment, thus eliminating the anode. The conductive path typically involves the metal itself, and the electrolyte facilitates the corrosion process by enabling the flow of ions between the anode and cathode.