Examination of corrosion caused by effects of acid rains in aluminum alloys used in construction sector

The concept of corrosion is used to define the degradation of metal and alloys as a result of their chemical and electrochemical reactions with their ambient. Aluminum is known for its superior resistance to oxidation. The property of passivation underlies this resistance. Aluminum is used in production of numerous products in many branches of industry. Aluminum structural components find a wide usage area in the transportation and construction industry requiring light weight and high strength characteristics. The construction encompassing the building frontage completely, cladding and formed by using aluminum joinery profiles is called as aluminum curtain wall. Aluminum curtain walling systems are an application which has been increasingly used every passing day in the construction sector since they are light weight and so enable to put lower load on the building. However, it is well known that these buildings are corroded due to changes in the air quality in the regions where industrial and transportation means are intensely observed. In this study, the corrosion formed in 6060 and 6082 aluminum alloys, which are used for aluminum exterior cladding systems exposed to artificial acid rain, is determined by using Tafel polarization (TP), Linear Polarization (LP), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Dynamic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (DEIS) methods, which has never been applied in such system before, among corrosion measurement methods and results obtained based on methods were compared and discussed. Experimental results were supported with SEM and AFM analysis. Experimental results revealed that the corrosion resistance of AA6060 metal in the artificial acid rain solution was higher compared to AA6082 metal. Keywords: Aluminum, Corrosion, Simulated Acid Rain