Tags: #buildingmaterials #buildingscience #corrosion #fasteners #materialsscience #mgo #roguetesting
Getting real with fastener corrosion: does substrate type affect corrosion rates?
I’ve used this wicking test to evaluate fastener corrosion with various sheathing types. It’s a simple method – the panel edge is held in water which rises via capillary action. These conditions are ideal for redox reactions where water evaporates from saturated interfaces. The water source may include any desired type, including lab-grade water, hard water, and even saltwater.
This work is ongoing, but initial 3-month results show that corrosion rates are most notably influenced by fastener type (coating) not sheathing type. No surprise there. And magnesium oxide panels are performing extremely well despite misconceptions regarding chloride-based chemistry and corrosion risks. The right panel formulation and fastener type make this a nonissue.