Aluminum Water Tank Corrosion

The rate and severity of tank corrosion are highly influenced by several factors including environmental conditions the tank s construction joints insulation etc the length of exposure of unprotected steel to moisture chemical properties of the moisture and undesirable temperature ranges.

Aluminum water tank corrosion. The first would be to cut the tops out of the old aluminum tanks clean up the corrosion as best you can and then line the tanks with 1 2 polyethylene plastic on all six sides. Brackets and stiffeners were found partly corroded through as shown in figures 1 and 2. A strong electrolyte is formed by stored water that creates a type of vehicle for ion transfers as well as current flow in the steels micro structure. Minimize or mitigate the effect of galvanic corrosion.

More generally 1xxx 3xxx 5xxx and 6xxx series alloys offer good corrosion resistance. Inside of the water tank the corrosion control approach will be different. Aluminum and its alloys have a good corrosion resistance owing to aluminum oxide passive films. Bill you have done well to get twenty years of service from your aluminum water tanks.

You should also consider the grade or series of aluminum you re using. Near collapse due to serious corrosion during an owner s annual inspection serious corrosion attacks were found in integrated aluminium fresh water tanks which required extensive repair. Unfortunately the susceptibility of these materials to localized corrosion makes them particularly vulnerable to microbiologically influence corrosion mic. Aluminium fresh water tanks.

Some of theses notably 5052 and 3003 have better corrosion resistance properties than others.