9. Glossary

Microstructure; microstructure

The microscopic structure of metals, made up mainly of individual crystalline zones called "grains", whose size, orientation and crystal lattice determine the metal's physicochemical properties. The zone between the grains often has a different composition from the interior of the grain, and is called the "grain boundary".

Pitting (pitting corrosion)

Pitting is the most common form of localized corrosion of metals and alloys. It results in the appearance of a hole in the metal (if the pitting is open) or the appearance of a mound of corrosion products. A description of pitting on aluminum can be found in the article