Abstract
THE fact that iron readily perishes when exposed to the forces of Nature must have been observed by man practically as long as the metal itself has been recognised. But it is only comparatively recently that the problem of the preservation of iron from corrosion has developed into one of such stupendous economic importance as at the present day. Sir Robert Hadfield estimates the wastage of the world's steel on account of rust alone to reach some 29 million tons for the year 1920. This, at an average figure of 20l. per ton, represents a loss to the community of at least 580,000,000l. One interesting feature of this calculation is that the annual increase in the world's total stock of iron and steel is only some 30 per cent. of the annual production, the remaining 70 per cent. being absorbed in replacing wastage consequent upon fair wear and tear and upon corrosion.
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F., J. The Corrosion of Ferrous Metals. Nature 110, 83–84 (1922). https://doi.org/10.1038/110083a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/110083a0