Corrosion behavior of Al 6082 T6 hard anodized aluminum alloy specimens in deep-sea environment

Al 6082 T6 hard anodized aluminum alloy specimens were exposed in deep sea, at a depth of approximately 3,350 m, off the Capo Passero (Sicily, Italy) in the KM3NeT project framework. All specimens-as retrieved from the sea after 6, 12, and 18 months of exposure-showed visible corrosion products on the thin lateral faces and on the edges, while the tops and bottoms of the samples remained nearly uncorroded. This confined hard anodization failure was ascribed to surface inhomogeneity that determined a reduction of corrosion protection.