There are many ways that corrosion affects your life. Your car can experience corrosion (commonly called rust), your workplace can be negatively affected by it, and even your home might face corrosion. Anything that is made of metal or has metal components can potentially become corroded. Check out these different ways to prevent corrosion to learn the best methods to protect your metal items.

Use corrosion-resistant metals

One of the simplest ways to prevent corrosion in your metal items is by only investing in metal alloys that are designed to be corrosion-resistant. Pure metals are typically more susceptible to corrosion than alloyed metals—especially those designed to withstand specific corrosive materials such as humidity, saltwater, and more. Research the type of metal used to better understand the type of corrosion you should look out for and invest in a metal that may withstand the environment a bit better.

Apply a sacrificial coating

If the metal your item is made of is not naturally corrosion-resistant in its current environment, you may want to invest in a sacrificial coating. This thin layer of paint-like substance is designed to take the corrosive elements on headfirst, protecting the metal below its surface. The coating is affected by the corrosion and is eventually eaten away, so it must be replaced periodically to continue protecting the metal below.

Invest in cathodic protection

The most effective way to prevent corrosion is by investing in cathodic protection for your metal items. Cathodic protection works by converting the anodes on your metal’s surface to cathodes which then repels corrosion. This is the most effective method, and there are two different types of cathodic protection systems you can decide between. Which protection system you should choose will boil down to the setting and level of protection needed.

For home use, simply choosing a corrosion-resistant metal for appliances and hardware should be enough to protect your home from the damages of corrosion. For car and basic industrial uses, a sacrificial coating should prevent corrosion damage. For extreme corrosion protection, cathodic protection is the way to go.