Stray-current corrosion is technically called?

Prepare for the ABYC Marine Corrosion Certification Exam with our comprehensive test questions. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

Stray-current corrosion is technically referred to as electrolytic corrosion. This type of corrosion occurs when an electric current deviates from its intended path and flows through a conductive medium, such as water, which can include metal structures like boats and piers. The presence of an electric current alters the electrochemical processes that affect the metal, causing it to corrode.

In electrolytic corrosion, the current can be introduced from nearby sources, such as faulty wiring or nearby electrical systems, resulting in localized corrosion in specific areas of a metal surface. Factors contributing to this form of corrosion include the conductivity of the surrounding environment and the presence of other metals that might influence the electrochemical reactions.

The other terms listed, such as electromagnetic corrosion, galvanic corrosion, and thermal corrosion, refer to different mechanisms of corrosion and do not accurately describe the phenomenon of stray current interference. Galvanic corrosion, for instance, involves the electrochemical reaction between dissimilar metals in an electrolyte but is distinct from the stray-current mechanism, which is based on electric currents rather than metal dissimilarity.

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