1.

Temperature
Corrosion reactions are electrochemical in nature and usually accelerate with
increasing temperature.

Therefore, corrosion proceeds faster in warmer

environments than in cooler ones. If the temperature of the air is increased then
the rate of reaction will increase as well.

2. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

A gaseous product of the combustion of fuels containing sulfur such as coal,
diesel, gasoline and natural gas, has been identified as one of the most important
air pollutants that contribute to the corrosion of metals. Sulfur dioxide is acidic.
It is reacts exothermically with bases such as amines, amides, metal oxides and
hydroxides and also can act as an oxidizing agent
In the gas phase sulfur dioxide is oxidized by reaction with the hydroxyl radical
via an intermolecular reaction:
SO2 + OH HOSO2
Which is followed by:
HOSO2 + O2 HO2 + SO3

3. Wind speed
Some studies have indicated that there is a strong correlation between wind
speed and the deposition and capture of aerosols.

4. Amount of rain
Rain also may have a beneficial effect in washing away atmospheric pollutants
that have settled on exposure surfaces. This effect has been particularly
noticeable in marine atmospheres. On the other hand, if the rain collects in
pockets or crevices, it may accelerate corrosion by supplying continued wetness
in such areas in corners or joints.
Rainfall is naturally acidic due to the presence of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere which combines with rainwater to form weak carbonic acid.
However, the combustion of fossil fuels produces waste gases such as sulphur
dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and to a lesser extent, chloride. These pollutants can
be converted, through a series of complex chemical reactions, into sulphuric
acid, nitric acid or hydrochloric acid, increasing the acidity of the rain or other
type of precipitation, such as snow and hail.
Carbon dioxide + Water = Carbonic acid (weak)
Sulphur dioxide + Water = Sulphuric acid
Nitrogen oxides + Water = Nitric acid

5. Relative humidity

Relative humidity is defined as ratio of the quantity of water vapour present in

the atmosphere to the saturation of quantity at given temperature, and it is
expressed as percent. In the absence of any particular surface effects, the
dewpoint corresponds to the temperature at which condensation occurs. A high
relative humidity would therefore be associated with a dew point close to
ambient air temperature. If the relative humidity were 100%, for example, the
dewpoint would be equal to ambient temperature. Relationship between dew
point temperature and relative humidity can be show as below graph;

Relationship between dew point temperature and relative humidity for selected surface
temperatures

The critical level of humidity is considered a variable that depends on the material
undergoing corrosion. It also depends on the products tendency to corrode and the
absorption of moisture by surface deposits as well as the existence of pollutants. For
instance, the critical level of humidity is at 60% in cases where the environment is
without pollutants. With the presence of electrolytes in thin films, atmospheric corrosion
carries on through the combined cathodic and anodic reactions. Anodic oxidation
involves corrosion attack on metals.
Typically, marine environments and aerosols that are salt-rich have high levels of
relative humidity. There are various studies that revealed an adsorbed water layer on zinc
can have increased thickness along with an increase in relative humidity. This results in
increased corrosion rates.
Humidity can be measured in a two main ways. The measurement of the actual mass of
moisture in the air in grams per cubic metre or similar units, is known as the
absolute humidity. This can also be determined by measuring the partial pressure exerted
by the water vapour in the air. Common usage, however, uses a more complex measurement known as
relative humidity. This is the percentage ratio of the amount of water vapour to the
maximum amount of water vapour which could be held in the same volume of air at that
temperature. That is, relative humidity (RH) is given by:

RH=

Actual moisture content of the air

Max moisture contents of the air at temp

When the air contains all the water vapour it can hold it is said to be saturated for that
temperature and the relative humidity is 100 per cent.

6. Ozone, O3
Ozone as a pure gas is amazingly benign. Ozone gas will form an oxide layer on
all of these metals. Ozone produced practically will erode a steel pipe fairly
quickly. Ozone dissolved in water will destroy all three metals in short order.
Ozone is probably one of the best oxidizers of metals out there in terms of
molecular compounds. Ozone will easily oxidize iron to iron(ii) oxide or iron(iii)
oxide. As conclusion, ozone will easily oxidize steel to a metal oxide of steel.

7.

Nitrogen monoxide (NO)

Toxic gases with being a highly reactive oxidant and corrosive. Nitric oxide is a
colorless, flammable gas with a slight odour. Although somewhat toxic, its odour
is insufficient to provide warning.
This gas are by products of firing processes of extreme high temperatures
(automobiles, utility plants), and in chemical industries (fertilizer production).
Natural processes such as bacterial action in soil, forest fires, volcanic action,
and lightning make up five percent of nitrogen oxide emission. Transportation
makes up 43 percent, and 32 percent belongs to industrial combustion.
Thus, it can also dissolve in a film of moisture in contact with the metal then
promote corrosion.

8. Time of Wetness, TOW

The period required for the formation of a surface layer of moisture on a metal or
alloy in favourable atmospheric conditions is known as time of wetness (TOW).
The TOW of a corroding surface is a key parameter, directly determining the
duration of the electrochemical corrosion processes. This moisture film is
extremely important from the point of view of the chemical mechanisms of the
corrosion process. Therefore, wetness duration is important in corrosion rate.
For example, atmospheric corrosion of zinc is roughly proportional to the time of
wetness in a particular location, providing that the nature and quantity of
environmental pollutants does not change. Increasing temperature usually
reduces the time of wetness, lowering the corrosion rate.
Wetness can also cause surface corrosion on galvanization when steel sheets
become wet while tightly bundled (in coils, or in lifts of blanked sheets/rollformed panels), and then not immediately separated and allowed to dry. The
continual wetness prevents the formation of a protective passive film on the zinc
surface. The result is a stained, discoloured sheet for which it is virtually
impossible to return to its original shiny metallic appearance.
Wetness also causes corrosion of metals (such as fasteners) embedded in timber
when the timber moisture content exceeds 17%. The increased time of wetness is
a major contributor to the accelerated corrosion of metallic coated steel when
placed in contact with wet timber.

9. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish brown, nonflammable, gas with a detectable smell.
In significant concentrations it is highly toxic, causing serious lung damage with
a delayed effect. Nitrogen dioxide is a strong oxidizing agent that reacts in the air
to form corrosive nitric acid, as well as toxic organic nitrates. It also plays a
major role in the atmospheric reactions that produce ground-level ozone or smog.

The primary sources indoors are combustion processes, such as:

unvented combustion appliances, e.g. gas stoves
vented appliances with defective installations
welding
tobacco smoke
Kerosene heaters.
In the atmosphere, nitrogen oxides mix with water vapour producing nitric acid.
This acidic pollution can be transported by win over many hundreds of miles,
and deposited as acid rain.