Effect of the environment on the metal release and corrosion behaviour of different copper-based alloys : Field exposures at 5 different test sites in Europe

• Diffuse emissions and dispersion of metals from different sources in the society have lately received an increased concern from an environmental perspective. Large research efforts have been initiated and undertaken by the division of Corrosion Science at KTH to fill knowledge gaps on corrosion-induced metal release from external constructions and buildings. The generation of such data is of paramount importance for the on-going assessment of flows and potential adverse environmental effects caused by released metals. Generated information is also essential for an improved understanding of prevailing atmospheric corrosion processes of importance for the preservation of our cultural heritage, e.g. bronze statues exposed to the atmosphere. This paper summarizes and compares long-term metal release data from pure copper, bronze (6%wt Sn) and brass (20%wt Zn) exposed at unsheltered conditions in five European environments of significantly different climatic and pollutant conditions; three urban sites (Stockholm-Sweden, Milan-Italy and Madrid-Spain) and two marine sites (Brest-France, Cadiz-Spain). Generated data are interpreted with respect to parallel multi-analytical studies of changes in patina characteristics, corrosion rates and differences in prevailing environmental conditions.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Korrosionsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Corrosion Engineering (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Atmospheric corrosion

Brass

Bronze

Copper alloys

Europe

Metal release

Patina

Bronze statues

Copper-based

Corrosion behaviour

Corrosion science

Cultural heritages

Diffuse emission

Environmental conditions

Field exposure

Knowledge gaps

Pure copper

Research efforts

Test site

Urban site

Corrosion prevention

Corrosion rate

Historic preservation

Marine pollution

Tin

Copper

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)