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MECHANISM OF SO2 AND H2SO4 AEROSOL ZINC CORROSION
Citation:
Harker, A., F. Mansfeld, D. Strauss, AND D. Landis. MECHANISM OF SO2 AND H2SO4 AEROSOL ZINC CORROSION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-80/018 (NTIS PB80167018), 1980.
Description:
This study established the physical variables controlling the SO2 and H2SO4 induced corrosion of zinc. Relative humidity, temperature, air flow velocity, flow turbulence, aerosol size range, and pollutant concentration were controlled. Corrosion measurements were made through the use of an atmospheric corrosion monitor. The results showed that the principal factors controlling pollutant induced corrosion are relative humidity, the rate of pollutant flux to the surface, and the chemical form of the pollutant. SO2 was observed to induce a higher corrosion rate in the zinc than H2SO4 on a molecule for molecule basis. Flow dynamic measurements provided bulk and size detailed deposition velocities for two different accumulation mode H2SO4 aerosol size distributions as a function of frictional velocity, and a deposition velocity for SO2 gas. The overall results indicate that under most ambient conditions SO2 induced corrosion damage will dominate over H2SO4 effects.