ICP Materials Trends in Corrosion, Soiling and Air Pollution (1987-2014)

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Corrosion Science

Background:

• International cooperative program monitoring material effects from 1987-2014.
• Included pollution data (SO₂, NO₂, O₃, HNO₃, PM₁₀) and corrosion data for various metals and limestone across 19 European sites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze long-term trends in air pollution and material corrosion.
• To investigate shifts in corrosion rates and kinetics around 1997.
• To evaluate the impact of pollution on different materials at industrial, urban, and rural test sites.

Main Methods:

• Collected and analyzed pollution data (SO₂, NO₂, O₃, HNO₃, PM₁₀) from 1987-2014.
• Measured corrosion rates for carbon steel, weathering steel, zinc, copper, aluminium, and limestone over one- and four-year periods.
• Compared corrosion kinetics using one- and four-year data, considering site-specific variations.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease observed in both pollution levels and material corrosion rates.
• A noticeable shift in the trend occurred around 1997, moving from sharp to modest decreases or stabilization.
• SO₂ levels, carbon steel, and copper corrosion decreased post-1997, especially in urban areas; zinc showed a decrease in four-year data but not one-year data.

Conclusions:

• Pollution reduction has positively impacted material durability, but the effect varies by material and location.
• Corrosion kinetics differ significantly among materials, particularly zinc, necessitating consideration in future corrosion models.
• Long-term monitoring is crucial for understanding complex material-environment interactions and informing conservation strategies for cultural heritage.