The oceans are more than just a source of endless adventure and opportunity for bucket list items. They’re also home to one of the most hostile environments on the planet. Oceans and seas are filled with saltwater, which is harmful to a host of materials. Marine environments are filled with corrosive substances that erode and destroy materials. There’s very little that is more hostile than nature at its finest. The elements are constantly at war with the materials that inhabit the oceans and the materials that inhabit the materials that the oceans inhabit. Marine corrosion is the term given to the constant battle between the elements and the materials that are exposed to them. The elements come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from wind and water to sunlight and ultraviolet. They attack materials from every angle, leaving them vulnerable, weak and susceptible to destruction. Understanding marine corrosion is paramount if you plan on working on, living in, or playing near the ocean or any other marine environment.

What Is Marine Corrosoul?

Marine corrosion is a constant battle between the elements and materials that take place in marine environments. Anything that is exposed to saltwater and the elements that are found in the ocean is susceptible to marine corrosion.  When you dock your boat, walk along the beach or venture out onto a yacht during a voyage, you’re exposing yourself to marine corrosion. There are three primary forms of marine corrosion:  - Mechanical - Occurs as a result of forces applied to the material by the marine environment, such as the movement of waves and currents, wind, the expansion and contraction of sea ice and the movement of ships and boats. - Biological - Occurs as a result of bacteria and other microbes that are present in the marine environment. - Chemical - Occurs as a result of substances that are present in the marine environment, such as oxygen-deprived water and low pH.

Why Is Marine Corrosion Important?

Before we dive into the details, it’s important to understand why we’re even discussing marine corrosion in the first place. For most materials, such as steel, copper and plastic, exposure to saltwater and the elements in the ocean won’t cause any problems. However, certain materials are more susceptible than others. Some materials, such as wood, are very vulnerable to marine corrosion. If you live on a beach or have a boat, you’re probably quite aware of how susceptible certain materials are in marine environments.  If you have wooden boardwalks or docks, have metal fences or railings, or have wooden pilings, you need to understand marine corrosion. These materials are very susceptible to marine corrosion. The other thing you’ll want to understand is why marine corrosion is bad. The reason these materials are so susceptible to marine corrosion is because they can’t protect themselves. Wood, for instance, doesn’t have the structural integrity to withstand the forces applied to it by the ocean and its elements.

How Does Marine Corrosion Occur?

When you expose materials to the elements found in the ocean, they’re at risk of marine corrosion. The elements come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the wind and the movement of water to sunlight and ultraviolet rays. They attack materials from every angle, leaving them vulnerable, weak and susceptible to destruction. Understanding how these elements affect materials is paramount if you plan on working on, living in, or playing near the ocean or any other marine environment.  When it comes to mechanical marine corrosion, the wind, waves, current and movement of ships and boats can cause structural damages to your wooden docks and pilings. That’s why it’s so important to consult a structural engineer before building in a marine environment.  When it comes to biological marine corrosion, the presence of bacteria and other microbes in the ocean can weaken the structural integrity of your wooden boardwalks and pilings. That’s why it’s so important to regularly clean your dock and boardwalk surfaces to prevent the growth of bacteria and other microbes.

How Can Marine Corrosion Be Prevented?

Before we jump into the details of how to prevent marine corrosion, it’s important to understand why certain materials are more susceptible to corrosion than others. This understanding is crucial if you want to prevent marine corrosion in your environment. There are two primary factors that determine how susceptible a material is to corrosion:  - Durability - The longer a material lasts, the less susceptible it is to corrosion. - Structural Integrity - The more structurally sound a material is, the less susceptible it is to corrosion.  Your dock, pilings, boardwalks and other wooden structures are made from wood. To prevent marine corrosion, you’ll want to protect these structures from the elements by regularly cleaning your surfaces to prevent the growth of bacteria and other microbes. You can also install a protective coating on your wooden structures to protect them from the elements. Your metal fences and railings are made from steel. To prevent marine corrosion, you’ll want to protect these structures from the elements with a coating or by installing an electrical protectant.

Conclusion

Understanding how the elements affect materials and how these elements attack materials is paramount if you want to prevent marine corrosion. The best way to protect your wooden structures is by regularly cleaning your surfaces to prevent the growth of bacteria and other microbes. You can also install a protective coating on your wooden structures to protect them from the elements. Protect your metal fences and railings with a coat or by installing an electrical protectant.