4. Conclusion

The difficulty, from an experimental point of view, of reproducing real and therefore fluctuating atmospheric conditions explains the absence of a quantitative model for estimating the service life of a metal structure subjected to atmospheric corrosion, and the need to rely on empirical relationships or accelerated testing. Nevertheless, when designing a structure or installation exposed to air, certain parameters need to be taken into consideration:

• Atmospheric corrosion is an electrochemical process taking place in a thin film of electrolyte;

• the composition of the electrolyte, which depends on the presence of pollutants, gases or particles likely to dissolve in it, is a determining factor in corrosion speed;

• the constituents of the air determine the nature of the corrosion...