An Electrochemical Evaluation of 1100, 5052, and 6063 Aluminum Alloys for Desalination

Aluminum alloys 1100, 5052, and 6063 were evaluated for desalination applications from their anodic polarization curves in 1X synthetic sea water from 25 C (77 F) to 150 C (302 F). Pitting performance was established from the relative values of the corrosion potential and the breakdown and protection potentials, and general corrosion rates were calculated from corrosion currents determined by the slope intercept method. Pitting is not anticipated for 5052 and 6063 alloys at temperatures to 150 C (302 F) and for 1100 alloy to 125 C (257 F). General corrosion rates for these alloys were less than 1 mpy.