World Corrosion Day
World Corrosion Day is observed every 24 April. Learn its history, the World Corrosion Organization behind it, how it is celebrated worldwide, and how to take part.
A day to see an invisible problem
World Corrosion Day is observed every year on 24 April. It exists because corrosion is the rare global problem that is both enormously costly and almost completely invisible — it does its work quietly, inside walls and underground, until something leaks, cracks or collapses.
The day was established by the World Corrosion Organization (WCO), a non-profit that unites national corrosion societies across five continents. Its goal is simple: remind industry, governments and the public that corrosion costs around US$2.5 trillion a year — and that much of it is preventable.
A short history of organised corrosion control
- 1943
NACE is founded
Eleven corrosion engineers form the National Association of Corrosion Engineers in the United States, professionalising the field.
- 1955
The European Federation of Corrosion
European societies federate to share research, eventually running the annual EUROCORR congress.
- 2010
The first World Corrosion Day
The World Corrosion Organization launches an annual awareness day on 24 April to put corrosion on the public agenda.
- 2016
The cost is quantified
The NACE IMPACT study estimates the global cost of corrosion at US$2.5 trillion, about 3.4% of world GDP.
- 2021
AMPP is formed
NACE and SSPC merge into the Association for Materials Protection and Performance, the largest global corrosion body.
How the day is observed
There is no single format — that is the point. Anyone can mark the day in a way that fits their audience.
Universities
Open laboratories, public lectures and student poster competitions that introduce corrosion science to the next generation.
Technical societies
Webinars, awards and special journal issues from bodies like AMPP, the EFC and national corrosion associations.
Industry
Companies run toolbox talks and safety briefings linking corrosion to asset integrity and worker safety.
Public & media
Articles, social campaigns and explainers that translate a technical topic for a general audience.
Example: a World Corrosion Day in Porto
In 2025, the technology centre CATIM and the industry association AIMMAP hosted a World Corrosion Day session in Porto, Portugal, gathering universities, companies and public bodies under the theme of corrosion and materials protection in sustainable industry.
It is a typical example of how the day works in practice: a local, cross-sector gathering that turns a global cause into a concrete regional conversation. To find events like it near you, see the global directory at Corrosion Congress.
About the day
When is World Corrosion Day?
World Corrosion Day is held every year on 24 April. The date is fixed, so it falls on a different weekday each year.
Who created World Corrosion Day?
It was established by the World Corrosion Organization (WCO), a non-profit umbrella body that unites national corrosion societies worldwide to promote corrosion-control education and awareness.
How can I take part?
Host a talk or lab tour, share corrosion facts with your team, write or post about a corrosion topic, or attend a corrosion conference. Even a short briefing helps, because the core message — that corrosion is preventable — is what most people have never heard.
Mark the day with the community
Many corrosion events cluster around World Corrosion Day. Corrosion Congress lists conferences, workshops and webinars worldwide, so you can find a way to take part wherever you are.