Final answer:
Intergranular corrosion is removed through chemical treatment or mechanical means, followed by passivation. It's inspected using non-destructive methods. Corrosion prevention strategies include protective coatings and adding resistant elements to alloys.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intergranular corrosion occurs when the grain boundaries of a metal are more susceptible to corrosion than the interior of the material, often resulting from processes such as welding. To remove intergranular corrosion, one can employ methods such as chemical treatment, grinding, or mechanically removing the affected area, depending on the severity. After the corroded metal has been removed, the part may be passivated to restore a protective oxide layer on the surface. Inspecting for intergranular corrosion typically involves non-destructive testing methods, such as ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, radiography, or dye penetrant inspection to detect and assess the extent of the corrosion without causing further damage to the material.
Preventing corrosion is a vital area of industrial research due to significant costs associated with metal degradation. This includes the use of protective coatings, cathodic protection, and design modification to reduce corrosion susceptibility. Stainless steel's resistance, attributed to chromium and nickel, is an example of adding alloy elements to increase resistance to oxidative reactions. With the right combination of materials and prevention strategies, metals can be used effectively, even in corrosive environments.