Chapter H.1 - Atmospheric corrosion

Abstract

Atmospheric corrosion is the attack of a metal (or an alloy) by the atmospheric environment to which it is exposed. This corrosion is caused by the simultaneous attack by rainwater or condensed water, oxygen contained in the air and atmospheric pollutants. Nowadays, aluminium is the second most common metal, after steel, to be exposed to weathering, in all climates and geographic zones. Our present knowledge of the resistance of aluminium to atmospheric corrosion has solid foundations, based on two complementary approaches: testing in outdoor corrosion testing stations in Europe and the United States (where most, and the oldest, of these stations can be found), often for a very long time: 10 years, 20 years and sometimes even longer, and under three classic atmospheric conditions – marine, industrial and rural, experience with applications over several decades: some of the oldest and most prestigious have been reported by aluminium producers and transformers. Our understanding of the atmospheric corrosion of metals is based on theoretical foundations that are a special case of corrosion of metals and alloys.