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Metallic corrosion in the polluted urban atmosphere of Hong Kong

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 187, Article number: 4112 (2015) Cite this article

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between air pollutants, particularly acidic particles, and metallic material corrosion. An atmospheric corrosion test was carried out in spring-summer 2012 at a polluted urban site, i.e., Tung Chung in western Hong Kong. Nine types of metallic materials, namely iron, Q235 steel, 20# steel, 16Mn steel, copper, bronze, brass, aluminum, and aluminum alloy, were selected as specimens for corrosion tests. Ten sets of the nine materials were all exposed to ambient air, and then each set was collected individually after exposure to ambient air for consecutive 6, 13, 20, 27, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, and 70 days, respectively. After the removal of the corrosion products on the surface of the exposed specimens, the corrosion rate of each material was determined. The surface structure of materials was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after the corrosion tests. Environmental factors including temperature, relative humidity, concentrations of gaseous pollutants, i.e., sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and particulate-phase pollutants, i.e., PM2.5 (FSP) and PM10 (RSP), were monitored. Correlation analysis between environmental factors and corrosion rate of materials indicated that iron and carbon steel were damaged by both gaseous pollutants (SO2 and NO2) and particles. Copper and copper alloys were mainly corroded by gaseous pollutants (SO2 and O3), while corrosion of aluminum and aluminum alloy was mainly attributed to NO2 and particles.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the internal grant of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (A-PL40 and 87UB) and the Environment and Conservation Fund of the Hong Kong government (ECF20/2008). Special thanks go to Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department for providing the corrosion testing site.

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Affiliations

  1. Air Quality Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Bo Liu, Da-Wei Wang, Hai Guo, Zhen-Hao Ling & Kalam Cheung

Authors
  1. Bo Liu
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  2. Da-Wei Wang
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  3. Hai Guo
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  4. Zhen-Hao Ling
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  5. Kalam Cheung
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Correspondence to Hai Guo.

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Liu, B., Wang, DW., Guo, H. et al. Metallic corrosion in the polluted urban atmosphere of Hong Kong. Environ Monit Assess 187, 4112 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4112-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4112-z

Keywords

  • Metallic corrosion
  • Acidic particles
  • Corrosion rate
  • Polluted urban atmosphere