From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Explanation of the chemical process causing corrosion on exposed metal parts in jump spark ignition distributors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\2\ scan0033 | |
| Date | 20th May 1926 | |
| X. 7690. To 20.5.26. X.8690. CAUSE OF CORROSION OF EXPOSED METAL PARTS IN JUMP SPARK IGNITION DISTRIBUTORS. When an electric discharge occurs in air, the nitrogen and oxygen of the atmosphere, due to consequent ionisation, combine to form nitrogen peroxide. This is represented in chemical motation thus :- N2 + O2 = 2NO (Nitric oxide) 2NO + O2 = 2NO2 (nitrogen peroxide) The nitrogen peroxide dissolves in the moisture present in the atmosphere to give a mixture of nitric and nitrous acids thus :- 2NO2 + H2O = HNO2 + HNO3 These acids as is well known rapidly attack certain metals and cause corrosion. EFC/HEW. | ||