Atmospheric Exposure of Light Metals

This paper summarizes a ten-year atmospheric corrosion test program for aluminum and magnesium base alloys sponsored by the American Society for Testing and Materials under the direction of committee B-7 on Light Metals and Alloys Subcommittee VIII on Atmospheric Exposure Tests.

The program included fourteen cast, nine wrought, and three clad aluminum alloys and five cast and four wrought magnesium alloys. The specimens, exposed at five outdoor exposure sites in the United States, were tested after exposure periods of six months, one, three, five, and ten years.

The tensile strength of the exposed specimen was compared to that of the control specimen which was stored in a sealed container. The per cent changes in tensile strength for the exposed specimens compared to the control specimens are included in the data presented.