A corrosionist refers to a corrosion engineer, a corrosion technician, a corrosion scientist, a chemist, a physicist, an electrical engineer, a mechanical engineer, a coatings or plastics salesperson, a corrosion consultant, or a plant operator. This article presents an overview of statistical inference and addresses the commonly used statistical tools and tests. It describes the science and engineering of materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics. The article explores the principles of various surface-sensitive techniques and the usefulness and limitations of these techniques. The techniques are divided into those that provide insight into surface topography and surface structure, and those...