sequence of tenses

[Snappy]

I am writing a report on damage to a screw used for a machine.


"The surface of the screw was remarkably oxidized by heat.
Furthermore, thread damage is possible."


My question is whether i should write the second sentence in the past tense "Furtherefore, thread damage was possible."


I would have thought that it is okay to write it in the present tense because it means "the existence of thread damage is possible presently."


What do you think?

[gabber]

You're right. Oxidation is an event that happened in the past, and then ended, like a stroke of lightening. Damage is a condition that still exists; it is something like an injury caused by the lightening. The lightening (oxidation) struck then disappeared; the injury that it caused (thread damage) still exists.

[David L.]

"The surface of the screw was remarkably oxidized by heat.
Furthermore, thread damage is possible."


The oxidation and screw damage are both still in evidence - hence, one use of tenses might have been:
"The surface of the screw is showing/manifesting oxidization from (exposure to extreme) heat.
Furthermore, thread damage is possible."

However, your sentence, using the Past Tense, is correct, because the event - when the screw was actually subjected to heat so causing the oxidation - occurred at some time in the past.