The effect of nitrogen oxides in atmospheric corrosion of metals

Abstract

This paper is a state of the art survey on the current understanding of the effect of the atmospheric nitrogen oxides on structural materials. Atmospheric nitrogen dioxide, its chemistry, and its effect on metals are considered, particularly on steel, copper and zinc. It is shown that the detrimental effects of nitrogen dioxide are not well known. A number of conclusions are made which may improve further work in order to obtain a better understanding of the role of nitrogen dioxide and the controlling factors in the corrosion behaviour of materials in the atmosphere.