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City asks how anodized aluminum sculpture will hold up to salty environment

2007

First off, I know nothing about industrial metal. I am working with my city government to bring a sculpture to our area.
We have a sculpture in the area that people keep saying is also anodized aluminum; however, every article written about it says that it's stainless steel. This sculpture has discoloration due to salt spray and costs quite a bit to clean.
The sculpture I am looking at is anodized aluminum and will be subjected to quite a bit of salt spray. Could someone tell me what I can expect from it for discoloring (like mottled white spots) and cleaning?
Thank you

Colleen McIntyre
- Corpus Christi, Texas

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A good eye may discern aluminum as being more whitish in color like silver, and stainless steel being more bluish. The weight difference is very significant, so a search of shipping records may be informative. But the fast way is to ask a local scrap dealer to do his civic duty and bring his handheld XRF alloy sorter / scrap sorter [on eBay or Amazon] for a quick determination of what each sculpture is made of.

Aluminum, depending on the alloy and the quality of the anodizing process, may hold up fair to okay, but it's hard to say. Once the deterioration starts, with those little white crusty volcanos, it's all over. So if it wouldn't offend the artist, I think it should probably be clear-coated. Second opinions encouraged.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

Try Everbrite [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] coating (but there are other good products too-like Sharkhide [on eBay or Amazon]). Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Croatia
2007

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adv.

I agree, Ted. Metal sculptures exposed to salt air or salt water should be protected. I have heard from many artists who have had problems with metal in a marine environment.

ProtectaClear is an Everbrite Coating that has extra resins that are highly resistant to salt and chlorine. ProtectaClear is clear, thin, very tough and will not take away from the beauty of the metal while protecting the sculpture.
Hope this helps.

Teresa Sedmak
Everbrite Coatings

Rancho Cordova, California

2007