Metals are subject to corrosion in most chemical environments, for example, metals corrode in contact with water, moisture, acids, bases, salts, oils, gaseous substances and other chemicals. In general, minerals are more corrosive than organic substances. For example, corrosion in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries is often caused by the effects of minerals such as chlorine, sulfur, etc., rather than by organic substances such as oil, petroleum and diesel.

Corrosion inhibitors are substances that, when added in small amounts to a corrosive environment, slow down the rate of corrosion. In fact, an inhibitor can be considered a retarding catalyst. There are many inhibitors available with different compositions.