Hmm,
40 years is a long time although it sounds like you live in a benign
environment unless there's a lot of atmospheric pollution around.
You didn't say whether the aluminium was coated or not e.g. alochrome or
anodised. If it were anodised I wouldn't be too worried. If there were
anodised washers under the bolts then that would be effective too.
Alternatively ivadised bolts would stop corrosion also. Otherwise you may
see some corrosion under the heads of the bolts after a decade or two.
If you're thinking of painting anything onto the parts then I'd make sure it
went between the materials - there's a gunge on the market called 'Never
Seize Grease' which is a disgusting mixture of grease and some sort of mud
which is highly effective at stopping galvanic corrosion and leaving
indelible stains on your clothes as well as doing what the name suggests.
Regards,
Eric Christison Msc
Mechanical Engineer
Consumer & Micro Group - Imaging Division
STMicroelectronics
33 Pinkhill
Edinburgh
EH12 7BF
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 131 336 6165
Fax: +44 (0) 131 336 6001
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brian Ellis
> Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 3:31 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [TN] Slightly OT for conformal coating experts.
>
>
> I'm on the point of ordering a solar panel installation. The
> PV panels are set into an aluminium profile framework, held
> together with stainless steel (presumably 18/8 alloy) screws
> etc. The installation has a projected lifetime of ~40 years.
> In this timeframe, I'm a wee bittie worried about dissimilar
> metals, exposed to the weather, causing corrosion. Granted
> the surface area of the Al is ginormous, compared to that of
> the hardware, so that the corrosion will not be localised.
>
> The weather here is typically 9 months hot and dry (say, 25 -
> 47°C, 45 - 20% RH resp.), aggravated by direct exposure to
> the sunlight. The other three months are cool with
> intermittent heavy rain (say, 0 - 25°C, 45%++ RH).
>
> Would it help to paint onto the hardware (not the profiles)
> an epoxy coating, after the screws have been tightened, to
> reduce the risk of long-term corrosion? If so, what type? How
> does the epoxy stand up to UV exposure over the years?
>
> TIA
>
> Brian
>
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