Faucet filiform corrosion - photo

**Altair** · Apr 24, 2022, 08:27 PM

Faucet filiform corrosion.

Previously:

Monitoring corrosion process at Alcoa's Aluminum Research Laboratory - photo
NASA potassium corrosion loop - photo
NASA lithium corrosion rig - photo
Laser rust removal - GIF
Laser removing oil from engine block - GIF

**Inner** · Apr 25, 2022, 04:34 PM

I think it looks interesting

Never having heard of it I had to look it up.

From https://www.corrosionpedia.com/defin...form-corrosion

What Does Filiform Corrosion Mean?
Filiform corrosion—also known as "underfilm," "localized" or "filamentary" corrosion—is a type of corrosion occurring commonly within magnesium and aluminum alloys that use an organic form of coating (typically, organic coatings 0.05 to 0.1 millimeters thick) when exposed to warm and humid air. However, it can also occur on other coated metals such as steel, iron and zinc.

The mechanism for corrosion allows water and oxygen to migrate. The dissolved oxygen has its highest concentration at the back of the head. When the oxygen is reduced in the tail region, the metal ion dissolution and formation proceeds to the head. This type of corrosion tends to take place in high-humidity conditions. Nitrates, sulfates, carbonates and condensates that contain halides have been associated with filiform corrosion.

Filiform corrosion affects surface appearance with no consequence for the substrate’s mechanical resistance. This type of corrosion develops on defects or weak points of lacquered surfaces—and surfaces similar to lacquered surfaces—and spreads in the form of filaments.

Filaments are made up of a head and a tail; these, in turn, make up the mobile electrochemical cell on the surface of a substrate. These make up the two different sites:

The filament head, which is the anode.
The filament tail, which is the cathode.
Corrosionpedia Explains Filiform Corrosion
Filiform corrosion can occur in conditions slightly above room temperature and at a humidity level of 75%.

In places where filiform corrosion has occurred, a thread-like filament forms under the coating. The coating will bulge and have an appearance like that of a lawn riddled by mole tunnels. The filament will then continue to form until the coating is no longer continuous. Filiform corrosion can form with forming with a number of coating systems.

Filiform corrosion's unique appearance resembles fine filaments that look like worm-like threads and that seem to emanate from one or more defects in a slightly random directions. Normally, it doesn't extensively damage the metal. However, it has a detrimental effect on the corroded metal's appearance.

For instance, filiform corrosion within magnesium or aluminum can form a white precipitate, resulting in a tail. On the other hand, filiform corrosion in iron tends to form a head with green fluid and a tail of red precipitate. Filiform corrosion often starts off as coating defects like scratches and weak points such as beards and holes.

A number of approaches have been known to reduce filiform corrosion. One of them is applying several coating layers. One might also use a chromate containing a primer on aluminum or a conversion coating. Zinc with a primer on steel can also be used as a treatment.

**Toolmaker51** · Apr 25, 2022, 06:13 PM

So, it isn't diagramming the latest gerrymandering scheme?

**Frank S** · Apr 25, 2022, 06:29 PM

Just bake it a 300°f for half an hour scrub lightly with a light grit 3m scrubber, dip coat it in lacquer box it up and sell it for big bucks due to the unique patterns

**marksbug** · Apr 25, 2022, 06:53 PM

for sure!!! we could go out and buy up a few hundrad stick them out side for a year then rake in the millions!!!

**Frank S** · Apr 25, 2022, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by marksbug

for sure!!! we could go out and buy up a few hundrad stick them out side for a year then rake in the millions!!!

Wouldn't work where I live. I sandblasted tractor rim nearly a month ago and it still hasn't turned brown

**schuylergrace** · Apr 25, 2022, 10:50 PM

Does anyone know how to cause that to happen in a reliable way? All I can find are ways to prevent it, not cause it in a reproducible way. I wonder what metal that is on the faucet, too, since most seem to be chrome or nickel plated, but I'm mostly finding references to aluminum and steel. FYI, I'm not thinking about doing all my plumbing fixtures, but maybe using it as an element of metal-based artwork.