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).
Results and conclusions from a corrosion experiment on duralumin, aluminum, and Elektron metal using various fuels and water.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\4\ Scan169 | |
| Date | 28th June 1932 guessed | |
| Results: The strips of duralumin and aluminum were apparently entirely unaffected by any of the treatments outlined above. The surface of the metal remained bright and no precipitate of any kind appeared in the liquid. In the case of the Elektron metal, evidence of corrosion occurred in all experiments in which water was in contact with the metal. Bubbles of gas (presumably hydrogen) formed slowly on the surface of the metal, the metal showed some discoloration, and a white precipitate appeared in the liquid. The evidence of corrosion was distinctly greater when water and Ethyl Gasoline were in contact with the metal than was the case when water and ordinary gasoline, or water and benzol was used, but there was definite evidence of corrosion in all these cases. In the absence of water the metal remained bright and there was no evidence of corrosion in all cases whether Ethyl Gasoline, ordinary gasoline, or benzol was used. III CONCLUSIONS Elektron metal is apparently unattacked by ordinary gasoline, Ethyl Gasoline, or benzol in the absence of water. In the presence of water and fuel, it is attacked in all three cases but to a greater extent with Ethyl Gasoline than with ordinary gasoline. The metal seems far inferior to aluminum or duralumin in this respect, and since some water may be expected to find its way into gasoline tanks from time to time, it would appear very doubtful if Elektron metal is suitable for gasoline tanks regardless of the fuel used. Possibly some protective treatment such as anodizing or plating might improve its corrosion resistance. | ||