To one degree or another, most materials experience some type of interaction with a large number of diverse environments. Often, such interactions impair a material's usefulness as a result of the deterioration of its mechanical properties (e.g., ductility and strength), other physical properties, or appearance. Deteriorative mechanisms are different for metals, ceramic materials, and polymers. In metals, there is actual material loss either by dissolution (corrosion) or by the formation of non-metallic scale or film (oxidation).

Everyday objects and structures are made of well known metals like aluminium, brass, bronzes, copper, titanium, zinc.