An Electrochemical Evaluation of 3003, 3004, and 5050 Aluminum Alloys for Desalination

Aluminum alloys 3003, 3004, and 5050 were evaluated for desalination applications by means of their anodic polarization curves determined in 1X synthetic sea water at 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 slop-intercept method. Pitting is not anticipated for 3003 and 3004 alloys at temperatures to 150 C and for 5050 alloy to 125 C (257 F). General corrosion rates for these alloys were less than 1 mpy.