World Corrosion Awareness Day Date in the current year: April 26, 2025

Corrosion is a natural process in which where refined metal is converted to a more chemically stable oxide due to reacting by reaction with the environment, resulting in gradual deterioration. One of the most common examples of corrosion is rusting, the formation of red-orange iron oxides. Corrosion usually occurs when metal is exposed to moisture and oxygen. Factors that can increase the rate of corrosion include higher temperatures, the presence of certain chemicals in water that significantly alter its pH, contact with dissimilar metals, certain microorganisms, and mechanical stress.

Corrosion is a pervasive and costly global challenge that affects a wide range of critical sectors, including infrastructure, energy, transportation, and water systems. As metals degrade due to environmental exposure and chemical reactions, the integrity and reliability of structures such as bridges, pipelines, vehicles, and power plants are compromised.

Of course, there are various treatments used to reduce corrosion in metal objects exposed to weather, salt water, acids, and other corrosive agents and hostile environments. These include various surface treatments, controlled permeability formwork, cathodic and anodic protection. However, even the smallest deficiencies in protection can lead to extensive corrosion damage.

If left unaddressed, corrosion can lead to catastrophic failures that pose serious safety risks to human life, cause environmental damage through leaks or structural collapse, and result in immense economic losses. It is estimated that the global cost of corrosion exceeds $2.5 trillion annually, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention, monitoring, and maintenance strategies across all industries. So there is no doubt that it is extremely important to raise awareness of the dangers of corrosion and the importance of corrosion control to prevent catastrophic failures and reduce the economic and social costs associated with corrosion.

The World Corrosion Organization created and first observed World Corrosion Awareness Day in 2010 to raise awareness of the damage caused by corrosion and to highlight the importance of corrosion prevention in achieving a safer, more sustainable future. After a seven-year hiatus, World Corrosion Day was revived in 2017 and has since been observed every year on April 24.

Each year, the World Corrosion Organization, in collaboration with the European Federation of Corrosion (EFC), the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) and other partners, organizes various events and activities. These are aimed at engineers, scientists, educators, industry leaders and policy makers and include seminars, webinars, workshops, symposia, photo contests, lectures and more.