Development in the study of corrosion and extreme value statistics in Japan has been described. Professor Noboru Masuko had published a review paper on “Corrosion and Probability” at 1972, followed by the development of the extreme value theory in the field of corrosion science and corrosion technology. Various types of probability distribution observed in corrosion have been discussed. Estimation of the maximum pit depth or the analysis of the surface area dependency of pit by Gumbel distribution and Weibull distribution for the analysis of stress corrosion failure time have been discussed.

Prof. Masuko was one of the first researchers to apply image analysis to the field of corrosion. In addition to reviewing his achievements in image analysis, the development, current situation, and future prospects of research with applying image analysis were surveyed. Compositions and their distributions of rusts and distributions of pH or concentrations of ions in solutions have become measurable. New technologies-hyperspectral camera, etc.-could capture their distributions more accurately. Moreover, with the improvement of computer performance, it will become easier to grasp the corrosion situation without relying on human senses by applying AI with color analysis and texture analysis and so on.

We have learned a lot of significant knowledge from Prof. Noboru Masuko. One of them is the importance of thermodynamical approaches to resolving corrosion problems. In this article, thermodynamical treatments for corrosion problems are introduced. At first, thermodynamical treatments of the surface are shown. Some particularities occur at the surface of an aqueous solution, i.e., surface tension, capillary pressure and so on. These phenomena are explained by using the effects of change in the surface pressures of water vapor. Next, usages of the potential-pH diagrams for corrosion problems are introduced. A typical example is shown using the potential-pH diagram of chromium to extend for reaction kinetics. Finally, an unpublished manuscript written by Prof. Masuko is attached.

Late Professor Noboru Masuko, who showed a wide range of wisdom and intelligence in terms of not only refinery from ores to crude metals, surface treatments of metallic materials, processes from metals to corrosion products, etc., but also cultures and philosophies historically nurtured by the Japanese, once tackled “basic research on rusts” in unique approaches, to clarify their various physical-chemical characteristics for the first time in the world in around 1970. Studying the clarified physical-chemical natures of rusts, the authors carried out the development of nickel-added advanced weathering steel with improved anti-salinity properties. In this review, our ways of thinking are rearranged into models, so that readers easily follow our activities done in 1980s.

In addition, recent trends in this field of study are also discussed.

Researches and developments of zinc-based coated steel sheets for automobiles, construction materials, and electrical applications from 1960 to the present in Japan were introduced. International Conference of Zinc & Zinc Alloy Coated Steel Sheet, commonly known as GALVATECH established in Japan and held every about years in the major countries were described in the paper.

This paper reviews recent studies on the relationships between local electrochemical properties at the steel/inclusion boundary and pitting corrosion resistance of stainless steels. The effect of Mo addition to the steel matrix on the local dissolution behavior at the steel/inclusion boundary is explained. Then, this paper presents that the inhibition of inclusion dissolution is beneficial for improving the pitting corrosion resistance of stainless steels. In addition, this paper introduces other methods for improving the pitting corrosion resistance of stainless steels.