3 Ways to Protect Aluminum from Corrosion

3 Ways to Protect Aluminum from Corrosion

What are the ways to protect aluminum from corrosion?

  1. Choose the right aluminum grade
  2. Apply a protective coating
  3. Store aluminum in a climate-controlled environment

As the second most abundant metal in the world, it does not come as a surprise that aluminum is one of the most demanded materials by various industries today. Aluminum is a versatile metal that boasts a wide array of properties such as being lightweight, ductile, electrically conductive, rust-resistant, durable, and recyclable. Because of aluminum’s functionality, it’s important to understand a factor that may compromise its lifespan: corrosion. Let’s delve deeper into the ways to protect aluminum from corrosion.

In general, aluminum corrosion refers to the chemical decay of aluminum molecules into oxides. As a result, this compromises the metal’s properties. Let’s say you have aluminum windows in the Philippines. Once it corrodes, its strength is significantly reduced. As the metal is eaten away, it can develop fractures and cracks, which can be costly and dangerous for project owners. The severity of aluminum corrosion will depend on the metal surface and environment. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect aluminum from corrosion. Continue reading to learn more about these.

Choose The Right Aluminum Grade

Careful material selection is vital before venturing into any project. And given that different industries make use of aluminum to perform specific functions and use design intricate equipment. Similar to other metal materials, different aluminum grades have given rise to building parts, vehicle and aircraft components, electronics, and other applications.

While it is true that aluminum possesses natural properties such as lightweightness and strength, each aluminum grade has certain qualities that make them even more ideal for specific applications. This is because aluminum grades indicate that other metals have been used to form an aluminum alloy. These metals may include silicon, zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, and more. Here are some common aluminum grades known for their corrosion resistance:

  • 1100 Aluminum – This aluminum grade is known as commercially pure aluminum. With about 99% of aluminum used, the 1100 aluminum is extremely soft, ductile, and corrosion-resistant. It is widely used by food processing and chemical industries for products like carts, packaging, and storage equipment.
  • 3003 Aluminum – As a commercially pure aluminum material, 3003 aluminum is the most widely used out of all aluminum grades. It contains copper and manganese, which boosts the material’s strength to 20% stronger than 1100 aluminum. It also boasts excellent corrosion resistance.
  • 5052 Aluminum – This aluminum grade has the highest strength out of all the non-heat treatable grades, which makes it ideal for marine environments where exposure to salt water can cause corrosion.
  • 6063 Aluminum – This aluminum grade is known as an architectural aluminum alloy because of its high tensile strength, aesthetic finishing, and high corrosion resistance. It is also well suited for protective coating applications, which further improves corrosion resistance.

Apply A Protective Coating

Apply a protective coating
One of the most common and best ways to protect aluminum from corrosion is by applying a layer of protective coating. Once the coating is applied, the aluminum goes through a high-temperature chemical process that diffuses aluminum vapors into the metal’s base, which protects it from corrosion. You can choose from several protective coating options: powder coating and anodizing.

Anodizing involves forming a natural oxide layer on the metal’s surface. While it may help in making the metal less susceptible to corrosion, the resulting layers are oftentimes thin. On the other hand, powder coating is a heavily preferred coating option that involves using a mixture of resin and pigment. It is applied through a spray gun with a negative electrostatic charge to the powder. As a result, the powder remains fused to the aluminum’s surface after being cured inside the curing oven. This coating is immensely corrosion-resistant, thick, cost-effective, offers a wide array of color and texture, and is resistant to color fading. If you’re concerned about aluminum corrosion, it would be best to go for powder coating.

Store Aluminum In A Climate Controlled Environment

Another common way to protect from corrosion is to store it in a climate-controlled environment. Corrosion is the result of environmental elements that trigger a chemical reaction in aluminum. It can occur if the aluminum is exposed to a very damp environment where salt is present. If possible, store your aluminum parts and products in a climate-controlled environment where they are not exposed to moisture, salt, air pollutants, and other natural factors.

Key Takeaway

There are several ways to protect aluminum from corrosion — we have listed three of the most effective ones above. In need of aluminum products that don’t corrode? At AMC Aluminum, our aluminum profiles in the Philippines are protected with powder coating.

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