Corrosion news from abroad

ASPHALT Investigations into photo‐oxidation degradation. Research workers of the US National Bureau of Standards have recently concluded a basic study on changes in the infra‐red spectra of asphalts due to photo‐oxidation, particularly those involving carbonyl compounds with absorption in the region of 1,700 cm−1. Results of the study reveal that, contrary to previous opinion, ketones, aldehydes, and acids, rather than esters, are the primary sources of oxygen‐containing molecules in oxidised asphalt.