Atmospheric corrosion effects of HNO3—Comparison of laboratory-exposed copper, zinc and carbon steel

The influence of nitric acid (HNO3) on the atmospheric corrosion of copper, zinc and carbon steel was investigated in laboratory exposures at 65% relative humidity (RH), 25°C and 0.03cms−1 air velocity. The deposition velocity (Vd) of HNO3 on the specimens, the corrosion rates and corrosion products were determined by gravimetry, ion chromatography, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy. Comparisons were also made with literature data on the corrosion effects of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3).