Technical literature contains relatively few references to corrosion research prior to 1900. Prior records and the work done in the first few years of this century deal mostly with the relative corrosion of wrought iron, cast iron and steel. These questions for some time led to heated arguments rather than to research. The fact, not then recognized, seems to be that wrought iron on account of its rough finish makes for better adhesion of mill scale and paint, and, therefore, better results are observed in the atmosphere. The presence of a small amount of copper, in the light of later knowledge, accentuated this difference but the advocates of wrought iron insisted that the two or three per cent residual silicate cinder in the forged iron obstructed the course of corrosion.
The differences between corrosion in air and water were not then known. Corrosion was regarded as one problem whereas we...
