Corrosion is a familiar concept – as familiar as the rusting of steel left outside or the green patina of an old copper roof. Corrosion attack is normally seen as a non-desirable effect that causes a loss of aesthetic value and mechanical strength, although many find the patina attractive. This chapter takes those simple concepts and expands them to present the actual mechanisms involved and to relate them to what is happening in the atmosphere.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
References
Brimblecombe P, 1987. The big smoke – A History of Air Pollution in London since Medieval Times. London: Methuen.
Geike F R S, 1880. Rock weathering as illustrated in Edinburgh churchyards. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 10: 518–532.
Knotkova D, 1993. “Atmospheric Corrosivity Classification. Results from the International Testing Program ISOCORRAG,” Corrosion Control for Low-Cost Reliability, 12th International Corrosion Congress, Vol. 2, Progress Industries Plant Operations, NACE International, Houston, Texas, pp. 561–568.
Magnus G, 1864. The influence of bronze composition on the formation of an attractive green patina. Dingler Polytechnisches Journal 172: 371–376.
Mikhailov A A, Tidblad J and Kucera V, “The Classification System of ISO 9223 Standard and the Dose-Response Functions Assessing the corrosivity of Outdoor Atmospheres” Protection of Metals. 2004. Vol. 40. N 6. pp. 541–550 (In Russian variant pp. 601–610).
Morcillo M, Almeida E M, Rosales B M et al., Eds., “Functiones de Dano (Dosis/Respuesta) de la Corrosion Atmospherica en Iberoamerica, “Corrosion y Proteccion de Metales en las Atmospherias de Iberoamerica, Programma CYTED, Madrid Spain, 1998, pp.629–660.
Zallmanzig J. 1985. Investigation on the rates of immision and effects in selected places of Europe for the quantitative examination of the influence of air pollution on the destruction of ashlar. Report of the NATO/CCSM Pilot Study on Conservation and restoration of Monuments, Number 158 Umwelbundesamt, Berlin.
Svensson, J-E and Johansson L-G, 1993, A laboratory study of the effect of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide on the atmospheric corrosion of zinc, J. Electrochem. Soc., Vol 140, No 8, pp. 2210–2216.
Schikorr G and Schikorr I, 1943. Über die Witterungsbeständigkeits des Zinks, Z. Mettallkunde Vol 35, No 9, pp 175–181.
Brown, B. F., H. C. Burnett, W. T. Chase, M. Goodway, J. Kruger and M. Pourbaix. 1977. Corrosion and Metal Artifacts – A Dialogue between Conservators and Archaeologists and Corrosion Scientists. Washington, DC: National Bureau of Standards.
Cramer, S. D. and L. G. McDonald. 1990. Atmospheric factors affecting the corrosion of zinc, galvanized steel, and copper. In: ASTM STP 1000 Corrosion Testing and Evaluation. Committee G1 Symposium, eds. S. Dean and R. Baboian, Philadelphia, PA: ASTM.
Drayman-Weisser, ed. 1992. Dialogue/89- The Conservation of Bronze Sculpture in the Outdoor Environment: A dialogue among Conservators, Curators, Environmental Scientists, and Corrosion Engineers. Houston: NACE International.
Fitz S Ed., 1999. Quantification of Effects of Air Pollutants on Materials. Berlin: Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environmental Agency).
Gatz, Donald F. 1991. Urban Precipitation Chemistry: A Review and Synthesis. Atmospheric Environment Vol. 25B, no. no. 1: 1–15.
Graedel, T. E., Nassau, K., and Franey, J. P., 1987. Copper Patinas Formed in the Atmosphere - I. Introduction. Corrosion Science, 27(7): 639–657.
Lins, A. and Power, T. The Corrosion of Bronze Monuments in Polluted Urban Sites: A Report on the Stability of Copper Mineral Species at Different pH Levels. Scott, D. A., Podany, J., and Considine, B. B. Ancient and Historic Metal Conservation and Scientific Research. pp. 119–151. 1991. Marina del Ray, Getty Conservation Institute.
Lipfert, F. W. 1991. Historic Urban SO2 Levels. APT Bulletin XXIII, no. 4: 72. Notes adapted from F. W. Lipfert, 1987, Estimates of historic urban air quality trends and precipitation acidity in selected U.S. cities (1880–90), Brookhaven National Laboratory Report 39845.
Sherwood, S. I., D. F. Gatz, Jr. R. P. Hosker, C. I. Davidson, D. A. Dolske, B. B. Hicks, D. Langmuir, R. Linzey, F. W. Lipfert, E. S. McGee, V. G. Mossotti, R. L. Schmiermund, and E. C. Spiker. 1990a. Processes of Deposition to Structures. Acidic Deposition: State of Science and Technology, ed. P. Irving, Vol. III, Report 20. Washington, D.C.: National Acidic Precipitation Assessment Program. (SOS/T 20).
Stöckle, B., and Krätschmer A. 1999. Quantification of Effects of Air Pollutants on Copper and Bronze. In: Quantification of Effects of Air Pollutants on Materials. ed. S. Fitz. Berlin: Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environmental Agency).
Vernon WHJ and Whitby L, 1929. Open air corrosion of copper, a chemical study of the surface patina. J. Institute of Metals, Vol. 42:181.
Weil, P.D., Naude, V.N. Patina, a historical perspective artistic intent and subsequent effects of time, nature and man. pp. 21–27. 1985. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Sources of Additional Information
General mechanisms and metallic materials
Leygraf C. and Graedel T. E. Atmospheric Corrosion, Electrochemical Society Series, ISBN 0-471-37219-6, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.
Metallic and non-metallic materials
Brimblecombe P., The effects of Air Pollution on the Built Environment, ISBN 1-86094-291-1, Imperial College Press, London, 2003.
Effect of chlorides
Dean S. W., Delgadillo G. H.-D and Bushman J. B., Marine Corrosion in Tropical Environments, ASTM STP 1399, ISBN 0-8031-2873-8, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA, 2000.
Effect of HNO 3
Samie F., HNO3-induced Atmospheric Corrosion of Copper, Zinc and Carbon Steel, Thesis, ISBN 91-7178-483-7, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Trends
Tidblad, J., Kucera, V., Mikhailov, A. A., Henriksen, J., Kreislova, K., Yates, T., and Singer, B., “Field Exposure Results on Trends in Atmospheric Corrosion and Pollution”, Outdoor and Indoor Atmospheric Corrosion, ASTM STP 1421, H. E. Townsend, Ed., American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA, 2002.
Tidblad J, Kucera V, Henriksen J, Kaunisto T, “Mapping and Trends of Acid Deposition Effects on Materials in Scandinavia”, 13th Scand. Corros. Congr., (NKM13), Reykjavik, Iceland,. April 18–20, 2004.
Kucera V., Tidblad J. and Yates T., “Trends of pollution and deterioration of heritage materials”, Proc. 10th Int. Congr. Deter. Conserv. Stone, Stockholm June 27–July 2, 2004, Vol. 1, pp. 15–26.
An excellent overview of copper and bronze corrosion chemistry vis à vis pollution is found in:
Graedel, T.E., 1987. Copper Patinas Formed in the Atmosphere – II. A qualitative assessment of mechanisms. Corrosion Science, 27(7): 721–740.
Graedel, T.E., Nassau, K., and Franey, J.P., 1987. Copper Patinas Formed in the Atmosphere – I. Introduction . Corrosion Science, 27(7): 639–657
On CORNET and ICP Materials programmes
Tidblad, J., Mikhailov, A.,& Kucera, V. (2000). Acid deposition effects on materials in subtropical and tropical climates. Data compilation and temperate climate comparison. SCI Report 2000:8E, Swedish Corrosion Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Kucera, V., Tidblad, J. (2005). Comparison of environmental parameters and their effects on atmospheric corrosion in Europe and in South Asia and Africa. Proc. 16th Int. Corrosion Congress, Beijing.
Tidblad, J., Kucera, V., Samie, F. et al., (2007). Exposure Programme on Atmospheric Corrosion Effects of Acidifying Pollutants in Tropical and Subtropical Climates. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus 7: 241–247.
On other exposure programmes
Callaghan, B. G. (1991). Atmospheric corrosion testing in southern Africa: results of a twenty- year national exposure programme. Division of Material Science and Technology, GAcsir 450H6025*9101, Scientia Publishers, CSIR, pp. 75.
Knotkova, D. (1993). Atmospheric corrosivity classification. Results of the international testing programme ISO CORRAG. In: 12th International Corrosion Congress, vol. 2 (pp. 561–568). Houston, Texas: Progress in Industries Plant Operations, NACE International.
Morcillo, M., Almeida, E. M., Rosales, B. M, et al. (Eds.) (1998). Functiones de Dano (Dosis/Respuesta) de la Corrosion Atmospherica en Iberoamerica, Corrosion y Proteccion de Metales en las Atmospheras de Iberoamerica, Programma CYTED, Madrid, Spain, pp. 629–660.
Cole, I. S. (2000). Mechanisms of atmospheric corrosion in tropical environments. ASTM STP 1399. In S. W. Dean, G. Hernandez-Duque Delgadillo & J. B. Bushman (Eds), American Society of Testing and Materials. West Conshohocken, PA.
Maeda, Y., Moriocka, J., et al., (2001). Materials damage caused by acidic air pollution in East Asia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 130, 141–150.
Acknowledgments
The data and knowledge presented in this chapter are the result of an international co-operation between several organizations through three main efforts, the International Co-operative Programme on effects on materials including historic and cultural monuments (ICP Materials) under UNECE and the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, the EU 5FP MULTI-ASSESS and the EU 6FP CULT-STRAT. In particular, the following individuals and organizations are gratefully acknowledged:
– Dagmar Knotkova and Katerina Kreislova of SVUOM, Prague, Czech Republic for providing the ICP Materials sub centre for carbon steel, weathering steel, zinc and aluminium
– Rolf Snethlage of the Bavarian State Department of Historical Monuments, Munich, Germany for providing the ICP Materials sub-centre for copper and cast bronze including pre-treated bronzes.
– Tim Yates of the Building Research Establishment (BRE), Garston, Watford, United Kingdom for providing the ICP Materials sub-centre for limestone and sandstone.
– Jan Henriksen and Terje Grøntoft of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Lilleström, Norway for providing the ICP Materials sub-centre for coil coated galvanised steel with alkyd melamine, steel panel with alkyd, wood panel with alkyd paint and wood panel with primer and acrylate and the environmental sub-centre.
– Manfred Schreiner and Michael Melcher of the Institute of Chemistry, Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, Austria for providing the ICP Materials sub-centre for glass materials representative of medieval stained glass windows including potash-lime-silica glass M1 (sensitive) and potash-lime-silica glass M3.
– Markus Faller and Daniel Reiss of EMPA, Corrosion/Surface Protection, Dübendorf, Switzerland, for providing the ICP Materials sub-centre for zinc.
– Stephan Fitz, Umweltbundesamt, Germany, for valuable discussions
The Swedish International development cooperation agency (SIDA) is acknowledged for financial support of the RAPIDC project and the organizations presented in Table 3.10 are gratefully acknowledged for their participation and performing all exposure in Asian and African countries.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tidblad, J., Kucera, V., Sherwood, S. (2009). Corrosion . In: Hamilton, R., Kucera, V., Tidblad, J., Watt, J. (eds) The Effects of Air Pollution on Cultural Heritage. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84893-8_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84893-8_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-84892-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-84893-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)