Aluminium is the second most abundant metal on earth and due to its excellent properties, is one of the most widely used metals today. Therefore, it is useful to be aware of the conditions that shorten the lifetime of these metals.<\/p>\n
Corrosion of any metal<\/a> can significantly impact its functional strength causing structural damage like cracks, partial fracture, and total material failure<\/strong> in extreme cases. In this article, we shall take an in-depth look into aluminium corrosion to help understand the different types of corrosion that can affect the metal.<\/p>\n Aluminium corrosion is the gradual decay of aluminium molecules into its oxides that degrades its physical and chemical properties<\/strong>.<\/p>\n By nature, aluminium is a reactive metal but it is also a passive metal.<\/p>\n It means that while nascent aluminium will react with oxygen and water in the environment, the resulting compound will form a layer on the surface protecting the material underneath from further corrosion. This non-reactive oxide layer sticks well to the surface and does not flake off easily, similarly to stainless steel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unlike deliberate processes like laser etching<\/a>, aluminium anodising<\/a>, or brightening, corrosion is a slow process and will occur over many months or years. What makes aluminium unique though is that there are many different types of corrosion pathways. Understanding these different corrosion phenomena is the first step in applying control measures to reduce or completely prevent their occurrence.<\/p>\n The most common form of aluminium corrosion. Atmospheric corrosion of aluminium occurs as a result of exposure to natural elements<\/strong>. Due to its possibility of occurring in most places, atmospheric corrosion forms the lion\u2019s share of the total damage caused to aluminium in the world by all types of corrosion combined.<\/p>\n Atmospheric corrosion can be divided into three subcategories. These are dry, wet and damp, depending on the moisture levels of the service environment.<\/p>\n As the moisture content can change quite a bit depending on your geographical location, some regions will observe greater corrosion than others.<\/p>\n Other environmental factors that affect the extent of atmospheric corrosion are wind direction, temperature and precipitation changes. Concentration and variety of pollutants in the air, closeness to large water bodies, etc. also play a significant role.<\/p>\n Atmospheric corrosion may be exacerbated if the design does not allow for drainage of moisture. Creating pockets of water for rain and condensation, for example, are harmful design flaws.<\/p>\n What is Aluminium Corrosion?<\/h2>\n
Types of Aluminium Corrosion<\/h2>\n
Atmospheric corrosion<\/h3>\n
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