Let’s talk about the corrosion of metals caused by industrial atmospheres
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The main characteristic of industrial air is sulfide pollution. SO2 generated by the combustion of coal or other fuels is absorbed by the moisture on the dust particles to form sulfurous acid, which, through certain catalytic processes, oxidizes into very fine sulfuric acid droplets that then fall onto the metal surface. At the same time, there is also some presence of SO2 and sulfites. As a result, pollutants in the industrial atmosphere, together with dew or fog, produce a highly corrosive acid film on exposed metal surfaces. In addition to SO2, chemical plant atmospheres also contain CO2, chlorides, and many other pollutants; as a result, atmospheric corrosion in such plants is particularly severe. The marine atmosphere is filled with sea salt particles, which settle on metal surfaces with the wind. The amount of salt and debris decreases as the distance from the ocean increases, and is greatly influenced by air currents.
Sulfide pollution in industrial atmospheres causes severe metal corrosion. This is mainly due to sulfur dioxide (SO2) produced when burning coal or other fuels; this SO2 converts into sulfurous acid when it comes into contact with moisture in the air, and further oxidation leads to the formation of sulfuric acid. These acidic substances adhere to the surface of metals, forming highly corrosive acid films. Furthermore, the atmosphere in the chemical industry area contains not only SO2 but also various pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and chlorides, which makes the atmospheric conditions there particularly detrimental to the corrosion of metals. In contrast, sea salt particles present in the marine atmosphere can also cause corrosion of metals, with this effect varying depending on the distance from the ocean and the wind direction. .