Research

The main activities of the Corrosion Study Centre are teaching and research in the field of corrosion and protection of metallic materials. The staff of the Centre gives courses in corrosion and protection at the Faculties of Sciences and Engineering. Fundamental and applied research is carried out on inhibition problem, stress corrosion cracking, corrosion of metal matrix composites, corrosion and protection of reinforcement in concrete, surface treatments on various metals and alloys. Research cooperation programmes are in progress with institutions of different countries. Cooperation with industry is provided in studying corrosion problems and solving problems in the protection of industrial equipment.

Every five years the Centre organizes the European Symposium on Corrosion and Scale Inhibitors in cooperation with the Corrosion and Scale Inhibitors Working Party of the European Federation of Corrosion. The 10th Symposium was held at the University of Ferrara on September 2005.

Main current research topics:

• Corrosion inhibition of metallic materials (Alloys of Iron, Copper, Aluminium and Magnesium).
• Inhibition of reinforcement corrosion in concrete.
• Corrosion and protection of artistic bronzes.
• Corrosion of Metal Matrix Composites and Ceramic Matrix Composites.
• Corrosion and tribo-corrosion of ceramic coatings.
• Electrochemical characterization of advanced ceramic materials.