Aluminium in maritime environments
If aluminium is to be used in maritime environments and thus must be resistant to seawater in order to prevent corrosion, it is recommended pursuant to standard EN13195: 2009 to use a large proportion of 5000 and 6000 series alloys for maritime projects. Alloys 5083, 5754, 6060 and 6082, among other things.
For maritime aluminium structures it is recommended further, pursuant to EN1999-1-1 (Eurocode 9) to use screws, bolts and other connection elements in the material A4 316 - acid- and rustproof. If these are not used, there is risk of galvanic corrosion.
Acids and bases are damaging to aluminium
The optimal pH value for the oxide layer is in the range 4 to 9. Acids and bases break down the oxide layer, thereby opening up the raw aluminium surface. If aluminium is exposed to very strong acid or alkaline environments outside the pH range 4 to 9, violent corrosion will occur in the form of metal pitting.
Bases break down the aluminium faster than acids - for example concentrated caustic soda reacts so violently with aluminium that it can start to boil. The reaction is powerful and causes the temperature to rise, and the higher the temperature, the faster the reaction is. Thus, the reaction between aluminium and the base is self-accelerating and can accelerate violently. An example of a common alkaline material is concrete, which normally has a pH value of between 12.5 and 13.5. Concrete can therefore cause damage to the aluminium surface in the form of pitting.
