News Materials Science Steely Glaze: Layered electrolytes control corrosion By Ben Harder April 10, 2002 at 11:16 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Metals may someday rely on gossamer guardians. Ultrathin organic coatings offer a new way to slow the corrosion of steel, recent experiments suggest. Salt and moisture catalyze corrosive reactions of oxygen with metals. Microscopic defects on metal surfaces create sites where salt ions carry electric currents and trigger these oxidizing reactions.