Durability of bare and anodised aluminium in atmosphere of very different corrosivities. II Anodised aluminium

The behaviour of three anodic films with thicknesses of approximately 7, 17 and 28 μm is studied in atmospheric exposure at 11 natural testing stations with salinity levels ranging between 2.1 and 684 mg Cl''- m''-2 d''-1. To evaluate the results, use was made of gravimetric techniques, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), EDX microanalysis, standard quality control tests, optical microscopy and, occasionally, electron microscopy. It is shown that anodising with correct sealing is an appropriate solution for preventing localised corrosion of aluminium and conserving its appearance, even in atmospheres of high corrosivity, provided that an ill-defined minimum thickness threshold is passed. The 7 μm anodic films suffer corrosion after the second annual cycle in the most aggressive environments. Corrosion, when it occurs, is localised in the form of pitting or filiform corrosion. (Author) 23 refs