A Corrosion Study of Brazed Aluminium Radiators Retrieved from Cars after Field Service

Marja Melander, Sapa Technology, Finspång, Sweden & Ralph Woods,Consultant to Sapa Technology, Pleasanton, California, USA have published the first study in Europe on the corrosion behaviour of aluminium radiators collected from automobiles withdrawn from field service. The article was published by NACE International in the January 2010 issue of Corrosion - The Journal of Science and Engineering. 

The radiator types in the study were chosen from cars representing a cross-section of those presently widely in use in Sweden. Examination showed that none of these radiators had failed in service, although one had perforated but not leaked. With this one possible exception, all would have continued to provide at least 10 years and probably much longer of leak-free service.
 
There was no obvious trend towards increased corrosion with increasing service life. Local environmental effects probably predominated.  Internal corrosion was negligible and external corrosion was well controlled by the particular long life system used.

Download the article here

Web: www.nace.org
Corresponding author. E-mail: marja.melander@sapagroup.com