This has to do with how one chooses to use the word electrolysis or corrosion , galvanic dispersion battery conductance When a substance is exposed without protection the end result must ultimately end up with decay
electrolysis (ĭ-lěk-trŏl'ĭ-sĭs) Pronunciation Key
A process in which a chemical change, especially decomposition,is brought about by passing an electric current through a solution of electrolytes so that the electrolyte's ions move toward the negative and positive electrodes and react with them. If negative ions move toward the anode, they lose electrons and become neutral, resulting in an oxidation reaction. This also happens if atoms of the anode lose electrons and go into the electrolyte solution as positive ions. If positive ions move toward the cathode and gain electrons, becoming neutral, a reduction reaction takes place. Electrolysis is used for many purposes,including the extraction of metals from ores, the cleaning of archaeological artifacts, and the coating of materials with thin layers of metal (electroplating).
corrosion (kə-rō'zhən) Pronunciation Key
The breaking down or destruction of a material, especially a metal, through chemical reactions. The most common form of corrosion is rusting, which occurs when iron combines with oxygen and water.
Galvanic corrosion (also called ' dissimilar metal corrosion' or wrongly 'electrolysis') refers to corrosion damage induced when two dissimilar materials are coupled in a corrosive electrolyte.
When a galvanic couple forms, one of the metals in the couple becomes the anode and corrodes faster than it would all by itself, while the other becomes the cathode and corrodes slower than it would alone. For galvanic corrosion to occur, three conditions must be present:
Electrochemically dissimilar metals must be present
These metals must be in electrical contact, and
The metals must be exposed to an electrolyte
The relative nobility of a material can be predicted by measuring its corrosion potential. The well known galvanic series lists the relative nobility of certain materials in sea water. A small anode/cathode area ratio is highly undesirable. In this case, the galvanic current is concentrated onto a small anodic area. Rapid thickness loss of the dissolving anode tends to occur under these conditions. Galvanic corrosion problems should be solved by designing to avoid these problems in the first place.
Actually electrolysis may be caused by stray current passing through dissimilar metals such as bolted connections when 2 or more conductors are connected , When the conductors are not properly cleaned prior to assembly or when moisture if allowed to be present . This is not generally called electrolysis many terms are used to describe decomposition such as corrosion, decay, rust, oxidation, and weathering. The electrolytic transference of one substance to another usually metals immersed in a chemical bath of salts, one part becomes the cathode while the other is the anode whereas the cathode gains mass and the anode loses mass. When components undergo the process of corrosion or oxidation mass is lost due an interaction of moisture in the air or dust build up containing moisture
I believe this is more a matter of one person's way of describing the process through the use of one word over another
Chris O's description is more accurate
