ATMOSPHERIC TEST PROGRAMME

With the completion last year of a tropical marine site on the island of Aruba, Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, Virginia, USA, now has long‐term atmospheric test facilities covering a wide range of natural environments. This report is compiled by the company's senior corrosion engineer. Testing locations include Richmond, Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; Corpus Christi, Texas; Kure Beach, North Carolina; McCook, Illinois; Manila, Philippine Islands; and Denge Marsh and Widnes, England. Panels are on test also at Arenzano, Italy; Bohus‐Malmon, Sweden; and on a Gulf of Mexico's drill platform. Exposed materials include specimens of bare, painted and colour anodised wrought and extruded aluminium as well as screen wire, fencing, busbar and special products. Stressed and unstressed aluminium is exposed, together with zinc, steel and copper alloys, for calibration and comparison. The programme started in 1956 now includes over 20,000 test specimens. Data on changes in mechanical properties and corrosion rates derived from the tests are handled on a computer.