The contact of a metallic material with oxygen and moisture triggers a complex electrochemical phenomenon. The presence of water in the environment promotes corrosion, while the reaction of metals with air causes their oxidation.

In general terms, corrosion is the surface deterioration of materials due to electrical, chemical, or mechanical phenomena. This process occurs when there is a potential difference between the materials and an electrolyte in contact with them. Under these conditions, one of the materials acts as the anode and deteriorates, while the other, acting as the cathode, remains intact.

The degree of deterioration of the metal is determined by the flow of electrons it receives, which depends on both the electrical potential and the resistance of the system. The chemical nature of the anode and cathode influences this process, causing the former to deteriorate or dissolve, while the latter remains unaffected.