01 March 2005
NAVAIR 01-1A-509-1
TM 1-1500-344-23-1
TO 1-1-689-1
Table 3-1. Effects of Corrosion on Metals
TYPE OF ATTACK TO WHICH
APPEARANCE OF
ALLOY IS SUSCEPTIBLE
CORROSION PRODUCT
Surface pitting, intergranular, exfoliation, stress
Aluminum Alloy
White to gray powder
corrosion and fatigue cracking, and fretting
White, powdery, snowlike mounds,
Magnesium Alloy
Highly susceptible to pitting
and white spots on surface
Carbon & Low
Surface oxidation and pitting;
Reddish-brown oxide (rust)
Alloy Steel
surface and intergranular corrosion
(4000-8000 series)
Crevice corrosion; some pitting in marine
Stainless Steels
Rough surface; sometimes a red, brown,
environments; corrosion cracking; intergranular
or black stain
corrosion (300 series); surface corrosion (400
(300-400 series)
series)
Highly corrosion resistant; extended or repeated
No visible corrosion products at low temperature.
contact with chlorinated solvents may result in
Colored surface oxides develop above
Titanium Alloy
degradation of the metal's structural properties.
700 F (370 C)
Cadmium plated tools can cause embrittlement.
Cadmium (used as
From white powdery deposit to brown or black
a protective plating
Uniform surface corrosion
mottling of the surface.
for steel)
Pitting (promotes rusting of steel where pits
No visible corrosion products; blistering of plating
Chromium (plate)
occur in plate)
due to rusting and lifting
Nickel-base Alloy
Generally has good corrosion resistant qualities;
Green powdery deposit
(Inconel, Monel)
susceptible to pitting in sea water
Nickel does not corrode, but promotes corrosion
Electroless Nickel
Pitting and flaking of surface plating
of aluminum base metal where pits occur in the
(used as a plating)
plating
Copper-base Alloy,
Surface and intergranular corrosion
Blue or blue-green powdery deposit
Brass, Bronze
Silver
Will tarnish in presence of sulfur
Brown to black film
Gold
Highly corrosion resistant
Deposits cause darkening of reflective surfaces
Tin
Subject to whisker growth
Whisker-like deposits
Figure 3-24. Magnesium Corrosion Products
Figure 3-23. Aluminum Surface Corrosion Products
