Carbon Dioxide: The Unknown Factor in the Atmospheric Corrosion of Light Metals
A Laboratory Study by Dr. Daniel B. Blücher

Abstract

The atmospheric corrosion of Al and Mg-Al alloys was investigated using controlled air in the laboratory. The effects of CO 2 , temperature, NaCl, relative humidity, SO 2 , NO 2 and O 3 on corrosion rate and corrosion product composition were examined. Initial stages of corrosion were studied in situ using Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (SKPFM), which monitors the Volta potential and the topography at sub-micrometer resolution. The corrosion products were analyzed by techniques including IC, GI-XRD, ESEM/EDX, SKP, FIB/SEM and AES.

The main finding is that ambient concentrations of CO 2 (350ppm) inhibit the NaCl-induced atmospheric corrosion of Al and Mg-Al alloys. In the absence of CO 2 , high pH regions form in the surface electrolyte due to the cathodic reduction of oxygen. The high pH electrolyte dissolves the alumina-containing passive film, resulting in rapid corrosion. When CO 2 is present, it forms carbonic acid that neutralizes the hydroxide formed in the cathodic vicinity, which slows the corrosion. On aluminum-based alloys NaCl produces general corrosion in humid air without CO 2 , while pitting is observed at ambient CO 2 levels. The temperature-dependence of the NaCl induced atmospheric corrosion of aluminum alloys is strongly non-linear. With increasing temperature, the inhibitive effect of CO 2 declines due to the decreasing solubility of CO 2 in water. On Mg-Al alloys, corrosion attack is localized in the absence of CO 2 , while general corrosion prevails in its presence. The inhibitive effect of CO 2 is relevant to occluded areas, where the supply of CO 2 is limited, for example in crevice corrosion and corrosion beneath organic coatings.

In humid air, SO 2 accelerates the atmospheric corrosion of Al and Mg-Al alloy. The surface electrolyte is acidified by sulfuric acid formation, destabilizing the passive film. However, for aluminum alloys, SO 2 inhibits the NaCl-induced pitting corrosion. The precipitation of aluminum hydroxy sulfates was believed to retard pit propagation. The deposition rate of SO 2 on Al is slow and almost independent of the SO 2 concentration. In contrast, SO 2 deposition on Mg-Al alloys is transport limited at high humidity. In the presence of SO 2 , Mg-Al alloys suffer pitting corrosion that preferentially attacks the a phase.

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