WIX Archives

Re: Salt Water - effect on airframes

Posted by Cees Broere on Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:01:45 AM

In reply top Salt Water - effect on airframes posted by Richard Woods on Mon Jan 06, 2003 09:41:05 AM

Hi Richard,

Our own experience with salt water objects is that it is very difficult to stop the corrosion process since the salt water has had several decades to thoroughly penetrate the metal.

A possible solution would be to immerse the airframe in a tank with fresh water and regularly refresh the water to flush out any salt, but this takes a lot of time and is usually not desirable it items are to be put on display quickly.

Another thing would be to use oil instead of water. We usually try to stop the corrosion by applying a thin film of oil over the corroded areas but even this doesn't help at times, and sometimes gives the metal a yellow colour as well as the object stays sticky because of the oil.

Best solution would be to remove the corrosion altogether but the chances are that nothing worthwhile will be left depending the severity of the corrosion.

IN WWW some years ago it was mentioned that when the few airframes near the Australian Great Barrier Reef were recovered (the F4U-airframe which went to Bootstrap Avaiation IIRC) it was claimed that some sort of chemical compound was available that effectively stopped corrosion.

Another condition that can save an airframe from corrosion is if the salt content of the water is less than usual or if there is a lack of oxygen which in that case cannot serve as a catalyst.

Hope this helps

Cees

p.s. Richard, any update on "Easy Elsie"?

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