Corrosion Prevention & Surface Protectant
Corrosion costs the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Understanding how it works is the first step to stopping it. Salts Gone® products are engineered to break the corrosion cycle at its source.
Why Corrosion Is the Silent Destroyer of Metal, Equipment & Infrastructure
Corrosion is an electrochemical process where metal gradually deteriorates through reaction with its environment. When salt is present — whether from ocean spray, road brine, de-icing chemicals, or industrial processes — the rate of corrosion accelerates dramatically. Salt creates an electrolyte solution that allows electrons to flow more freely between anodic and cathodic areas on a metal surface, turning a slow process into rapid, visible destruction.
How Corrosion Attacks Metal
Corrosion is an electrochemical reaction requiring four components. Remove any one, and the process stops.
The Anode (Oxidation)
Metal atoms lose electrons at the anodic site, dissolving into the surrounding electrolyte as metal ions. This is where material loss — the visible damage — actually occurs. Iron becomes iron oxide (rust), aluminum forms white powdery deposits, and steel pits and flakes away.
The Electrolyte (Salt + Water)
Salt dissolved in water creates the electrolyte that carries ions between anode and cathode. This is why saltwater environments are so destructive — and why removing salt with Salts Gone®'s chelation technology breaks the corrosion circuit at its most vulnerable point.
The Cathode (Reduction)
Electrons flow from the anode to the cathode through the metal, where they react with oxygen and water. This completes the circuit. Barrier coatings like Under Gone™ and Thixo-Coat™ physically interrupt this pathway by sealing the metal surface from moisture and oxygen.
Types of Corrosion & How to Fight Each One
Uniform Corrosion
The most common type — metal deteriorates evenly across the entire exposed surface. This is what you see when an unprotected steel panel turns uniformly orange-brown with rust. Road salt and ocean spray cause widespread uniform corrosion on vehicles, trailers, boats, and outdoor equipment. Solution: Regular salt removal with Salts Gone® plus barrier protection from Under Gone™ or Thixo-Coat™.
Pitting Corrosion
Highly localized attack that creates small holes or cavities in the metal surface. Pitting is especially dangerous because it can cause structural failure with minimal visible surface damage. Stainless steel and aluminum are particularly susceptible in chloride-rich environments. Solution: Chelation-based salt removal eliminates the chloride ions that initiate pitting.
Crevice Corrosion
Occurs in tight gaps — under bolts, between overlapping panels, inside seams, and beneath gaskets. These confined spaces trap moisture and salt, creating aggressive micro-environments where oxygen is depleted and acid concentrations build. This is why undercarriages, frame joints, and body seams are corrosion hotspots. Solution: Under Gone™ penetrates seams and crevices to seal them from moisture intrusion.
Galvanic Corrosion
When two dissimilar metals are in contact in the presence of an electrolyte (salt water), the more active metal corrodes preferentially. This is common in marine hardware, mixed-metal piping, and vehicles with aluminum and steel components in proximity. Solution: Remove the electrolyte (salt) with Salts Gone® to break the galvanic circuit.
The Cost of Inaction
NACE International (now AMPP) estimates corrosion costs the global economy over $2.5 trillion annually — roughly 3.4% of global GDP. In the United States alone, vehicle corrosion causes an estimated $23.4 billion per year in damage. The vast majority of this is preventable with proper salt removal and surface protection.
The Salts Gone® Approach: Break the Cycle
- Step 1 — Remove the catalyst: Salts Gone® chelation technology bonds to sodium and chlorine ions at the molecular level, permanently removing them from surfaces where water alone cannot reach.
- Step 2 — Block the pathway: Under Gone™, Rusts Gone™, and Thixo-Coat™ create physical and chemical barriers that seal metal from moisture and oxygen.
- Step 3 — Maintain the defense: Regular application after salt exposure prevents the cycle from restarting. Prevention is always less expensive than repair.
Stop Corrosion Before It Starts
From salt removal to barrier coatings, Salts Gone® offers a complete corrosion defense system for every surface and every environment.
What Our Customers Say
Trusted by boaters, drivers, fleet operators, and homeowners across the country.
This is a must have if you live in the rust belt. I use it on my truck and tractor. It's amazing stuff.
As a coastal homeowner, we are finally able to efficiently protect our property from the corrosive environment around us.
I have been using Salts Gone on my boat and jet ski now for 2 years. Best product I have ever used. Way better than the competitors.
We use Salts Gone on our plow trucks after each snow event and are very happy with the results! Clean trucks with no salt residue left behind.
Best salt fighting product on the market. Honest advertisements unlike the competitor.
What a shocking experience! My pickup is not only showing no signs of salt, it is cleaner than it was before!
Common Questions About Corrosion
Understanding corrosion science helps you make better decisions about protecting your equipment and property.