
{"id":5712,"date":"2026-09-10T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T01:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/?post_type=media&#038;p=5712"},"modified":"2026-09-07T20:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:06:30","slug":"mechanism-and-solution-of-contact-corrosion-of-dissimilar-metals-electrolytic-corrosion","status":"publish","type":"media","link":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/en\/media\/mechanism-and-solution-of-contact-corrosion-of-dissimilar-metals-electrolytic-corrosion\/","title":{"rendered":"Mechanisms and solutions for galvanic corrosion of dissimilar metals (electrolytic corrosion): Guide to selecting optimal screws for procurement in Vietnam"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"el-h3\">\n<h3 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Introduction\">Introduction<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">In manufacturing, ensuring long-term product life and reliability is an eternal challenge. Particularly in high-temperature, high-humidity environments like Vietnam, metal parts can corrode much faster than expected, potentially leading to fatal product defects. Among these risks, &#8220;Dissimilar Metal Contact Corrosion&#8221; (Galvanic Corrosion, commonly known as electrolytic corrosion), which occurs when different types of metals come into contact, is a risk often overlooked during the design stage.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\">This article provides a thorough explanation of the scientific mechanisms behind dissimilar metal contact corrosion, practical knowledge of potential differences, and anti-corrosion measures recommended by Ota Vietnam. By reading this article, you will gain specific guidelines to minimize recall risks due to incorrect fastening component selection and establish a cost-effective procurement strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h3\">\n<h3 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Scientific Mechanisms and Conditions for Dissimilar Metal Contact Corrosion\">Scientific Mechanisms and Conditions for Dissimilar Metal Contact Corrosion<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h4\">\n<h4 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Why Do Different Metals Rust When They Touch?\">Why Do Different Metals Rust When They Touch?<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">Dissimilar metal contact corrosion refers to a phenomenon where, in an environment containing an electrolyte solution (such as moisture or rainwater), different types of metals come into contact, causing an electric current to flow due to the difference in &#8220;corrosion potential (ionization tendency)&#8221; between them. This results in the metal with the lower potential (the anode) corroding severely. In essence, it is a state where a &#8220;battery&#8221; is unintentionally formed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">For example, if a stainless steel plate is fixed with aluminum screws, the aluminum side will corrode rapidly because its potential is lower, acting as a &#8220;sacrificial&#8221; metal. This phenomenon can progress several to dozens of times faster than simple oxidation, making it feared as a &#8220;silent killer&#8221; in the manufacturing industry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h4\">\n<h4 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"The Three Essential Conditions for Occurrence\">The Three Essential Conditions for Occurrence<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">For electrolytic corrosion to occur, the following three conditions must be met simultaneously:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-ol\">\n<ol>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"0\"><strong>Contact of Dissimilar Metals<\/strong>: Two or more different metals must be electrically connected.<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"1\"><strong>Presence of an Electrolyte<\/strong>: A conductive liquid, such as water droplets, moisture, or salt, must be present at the contact area.<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"2\"><strong>Potential Difference<\/strong>: There must be a clear difference in corrosion potential between the metals in contact (generally 0.1V to 0.25V or more).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">In Vietnam&#8217;s factory environments, where average humidity often exceeds 80%, the &#8220;presence of an electrolyte&#8221; is a constant reality. Therefore, stricter measures are required compared to those used in Japan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h3\">\n<h3 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Potential Difference Tables and Data Analysis for Practical Use\">Potential Difference Tables and Data Analysis for Practical Use<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">When designers select screws, the most important indicator is the &#8220;corrosion potential.&#8221; Every metal has its own specific potential, and the greater the difference, the stronger the corrosion energy becomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-div\">\n<div class=\"data-box\"><strong>Key Data: Statistics on Metal Corrosion Potential and Corrosion Rates<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-ul\">\n<ul class=\"has-list-bullet\">\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"0\">Potential difference between stainless steel (SUS304) and aluminum alloy: approx. 0.50V to 0.60V (extremely dangerous range)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"2\">Potential difference between galvanized steel and aluminum: approx. 0.10V or less (relatively stable combination)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"4\">Annual average humidity in major industrial zones in Vietnam: 75% to 85% (high risk of electrolyte formation)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"6\">Economic loss due to corrosion (estimated in Japan): approx. 4 to 5 trillion yen per year (approx. 1% to 2% of GDP)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"8\">Corrosion progression rate due to dissimilar metal contact: can reach up to 10 to 50 times the rate of standalone corrosion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h3\">\n<h3 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Best Practices for Procurement and Design in Vietnam\">Best Practices for Procurement and Design in Vietnam<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h4\">\n<h4 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Four Anti-Corrosion Strategies Proposed by Ota Vietnam\">Four Anti-Corrosion Strategies Proposed by Ota Vietnam<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">To ensure stable operations in Vietnam, simply choosing &#8220;rust-resistant screws&#8221; is not enough. A total design that considers compatibility with surrounding components is necessary. Ota Vietnam recommends the following four approaches:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-ol\">\n<ol>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"0\"><strong>Use of Similar Metals<\/strong>: The most reliable method is to make the base material and the screw out of the same material. For example, using aluminum screws for aluminum plates or stainless screws for stainless plates eliminates the potential difference.<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"1\"><strong>Insertion of Insulating Components<\/strong>: If different metals must be combined due to structural requirements, use plastic washers or bushings, or screws with nylon coatings to break the electrical circuit.<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"2\"><strong>Optimization of Surface Treatment<\/strong>: By applying coatings such as zinc plating, nickel plating, or non-chrome high-corrosion-resistant films that are close to the potential of the base material, the effective potential difference can be reduced.<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"3\"><strong>Use of Sacrificial Protection<\/strong>: This method involves intentionally coating with a metal of lower potential (such as zinc) so that the coating corrodes in place of the screw body or product housing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h4\">\n<h4 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"The Potential of IoT for Corrosion Monitoring\">The Potential of IoT for Corrosion Monitoring<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">In recent years, Ota Vietnam has also been proposing environmental monitoring using sensors to meet the needs of smart factories. By measuring factory humidity and salt concentration in real-time and issuing alerts when the risk of corrosion increases, maintenance cycles can be optimized. This prevents line shutdowns due to sudden part breakage and enables planned component replacement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h3\">\n<h3 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Screw Selection Checklist: For Advanced Quality Control\">Screw Selection Checklist: For Advanced Quality Control<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">We have created a checklist for measures against dissimilar metal contact corrosion that can be used immediately on-site. Procurement and purchasing departments are encouraged to use this during meetings with suppliers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-ul\">\n<ul class=\"has-list-bullet\">\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"0\"><strong>Material Verification<\/strong>: What are the materials of the base part and the screw? (e.g., be careful with stainless screws in aluminum housings)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"1\"><strong>Environmental Assessment<\/strong>: What is the humidity at the installation site? Is there a risk of salt damage? (Pay special attention to coastal areas in Vietnam)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"2\"><strong>Type of Surface Treatment<\/strong>: Is the type of plating appropriate? (Chromate treatment, Geomet treatment, etc.)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"3\"><strong>Joint Structure<\/strong>: Is the shape designed to prevent water from pooling? (Check drainage structure)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"auto\" data-line=\"4\"><strong>Maintenance Plan<\/strong>: Are dissimilar metal contact points included in the items for regular corrosion inspection?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">Ota Vietnam provides technical consultations based on these items. We have an extensive database of failure cases in the local region, allowing us to support you in avoiding &#8220;pitfalls&#8221; during the design stage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-h3\">\n<h3 dir=\"auto\" data-heading=\"Summary\">Summary<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el-p\">\n<p dir=\"auto\">Dissimilar metal contact corrosion (electrolytic corrosion) is a phenomenon that can be sufficiently prevented by correctly understanding the properties of metals and implementing appropriate measures. However, in Vietnam&#8217;s uniquely hot and humid climate and increasingly complex supply chains, even a slight lack of knowledge can lead to serious quality troubles. As explained in this article, managing potential differences, implementing insulation measures, and selecting surface treatments suitable for the environment are the three pillars supporting product reliability. Ota Vietnam is not just a screw sales company. We are a partner that combines Japanese-quality technical expertise with a local network in Vietnam to provide the optimal &#8220;fastening solution&#8221; for our customers&#8217; challenges. If you have concerns such as &#8220;currently used screws rust frequently&#8221; or &#8220;uncertainty about metal combinations in a new product design,&#8221; please contact Ota Vietnam. We will do our utmost to enhance your product value and support sustainable manufacturing in Vietnam.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #f56d91; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>For inquiries regarding samples or materials, please respond to this email or contact our sales representative!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/en\/contact\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/column_cta-banner_en.jpg\" alt=\"column_cta-banner\" width=\"900\" height=\"Auto\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At Ohta Vietnam, we not only provide ready-made products such as screws and bolts, but also support activities in the manufacturing field such as cutting, inspection, assembly, packaging&#8230;<br \/>\nOur equipment list<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/en\/company\/introduction\/#introduction_ttl02\"> is here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As a &#8220;specialized support&#8221; for the manufacturing industry in Asia. If you have any related questions, feel free to contact Ohta Vietnam for detailed support!<br \/>\nURL: <a href=\"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/en\/contact\/\">https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/en\/contact\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction In manufacturing, ensuring long-term product life and reliability is an eternal challenge. Particularly in high-temperature, high-humidity environments like Vietnam, metal parts can corrode much faster than expected, potentially leading to fatal product defects. Among these risks, &#8220;Dissimilar Metal Contact Corrosion&#8221; (Galvanic Corrosion, commonly known as electrolytic corrosion), which occurs when different types of metals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5710,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/?post_type=media&p=5709","footnotes":"","title":"Mechanisms and solutions for galvanic corrosion of dissimilar metals (electrolytic corrosion): Guide to selecting optimal screws for procurement in Vietnam","_title":"field_639aec69b01cd","keywords":"Screws, bolts, fastening parts, professional tools, precision machining, parts sales","_keywords":"field_639aec76b01ce","description":"A thorough explanation of \"contact corrosion of dissimilar metals (electrolytic corrosion)\" which occurs frequently in Vietnam's hot and humid environment! We have published potential difference data to prevent product deterioration due to incorrect screw selection, anti-corrosion measures recommended by AutoVietnam, and a quality control checklist. A must-read guide for design and procurement personnel in the manufacturing industry.","_description":"field_639aec87b01cf","h1":"Mechanisms and solutions for galvanic corrosion of dissimilar metals (electrolytic corrosion): Guide to selecting optimal screws for procurement in Vietnam","_h1":"field_639aec90b01d0","main-title":"","_main-title":""},"media-cat":[23],"class_list":["post-5712","media","type-media","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","media-cat-column","en-US"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/info-media\/5712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/info-media"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/media"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/info-media\/5712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6458,"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/info-media\/5712\/revisions\/6458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"media-cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohtavn.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media-cat?post=5712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}