Electrochemical deterioration of wood in sea-water

IRG/WP 464

J Raczkowski

In the specialistic literature only few items can be found dealing with the specific kind of wood deterioration called electrochemical corrosion of wood. This deterioration occurs predominantly on marine vessels, yachts, and other marine craft where wood is jointed by means of various metal connectors. Up to date information demonstrates that in wood surrounding copper connectors, when in proximity with steel ones, a rapid destruction of wood tissue takes place accompanied usually by a darkish hue. When wood is immersed in sea-water, different metals act as galvanic poles activating a severe corrosion of these metals and accelarate destruction of surrounding wooden tissue. In the available subject literature, there is a lack of information about experimental data concerning the effect of time on the destruction of wooden tissue which is subjected to a system of corrosive galvanic action. In view of this, it was decided to carry out some experimental work aimed directly on the determination of the resistance of wood to electrochemical corrosion, ie its resistance to disintegration in the system creating a corrosive galvanic element.


Keywords: BETULA; COPPER NAILS; CORROSION; DETERIORATION; IRON; ELECTROCHEMISTRY; QUERCUS; SEA-WATER; TOUGHNESS TESTS

Conference: 81-05-11/15 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia


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