Chemical mechanisms for the atmospheric corrosion of lead

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2054858· OSTI ID:7289260

Graedel, T E ^[1]

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1. AT and T Bell Labs., Murray Hill, NJ (United States)

The physical and chemical phenomena responsible for the atmospheric corrosion of lead are presented. Corrosion layer formation, morphology, and chemical makeup are discussed in the context of lead containing minerals and other crystalline structures that thermodynamics and kinetics suggest are likely to be present. Formation pathways for the minerals most often reported to be present in lead corrosion layers are shown in schematic diagrams. Lead is quite reactive to common atmospheric gases, outdoor exposures typically producing angle site (PbSO[sub 4]) and/or cerussite (PbCO[sub 3]) and indoor exposures often producing lead carboxylates. The presence of these species is shown to be a natural consequence of the thin aqueous layer chemistry that obtains on lead in humid environments. The primary atmospheric agents responsible for degradation of lead are SO[sub 2], CO[sub 2], and carboxylic acids. Comprehensive kinetic simulations of the corrosion process are desirable, but await more extensive laboratory determinations of the rates of dissolution, precipitation, and transformation of lead containing chemical species. 57 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7289260
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society; (United States) Vol. 141:4; ISSN JESOAN; ISSN 0013-4651
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
CORROSION PRODUCTS
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
ELEMENTS
KINETICS
LEAD
LEAD CARBONATES
LEAD COMPOUNDS
LEAD SULFATES
METALS
MORPHOLOGY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
WEATHERING