Atmospheric corrosion resistance of roofing materials around DLSU campus

This study treats of one of the least researched fields in corrosion in the Philippines--Atmospheric Corrosion. Specifically, this pioneering project investigated the atmospheric nature around the DLSU campus and the extent to which roofing materials are being damaged by the environmental pollutants during the wet season.The various climatic factors, such as relative humidity, temperature, wind velocity, wind direction, rainfall and rainshower were investigated and their effects on the corrosion of roofing materials were determined. The presence of the two most aggressive atmospheric corrodents, sodium chloride (or sea-salt particle) and sulfur dioxide, was monitored in this study. The corrosion rates of exposed roofing specimens were also evaluated. The Velasco Building rooftop was selected as the test site. Sampling stations were situated at opposite ends of the rooftop, one adjacent to Taft Avenue (and the LRT System) and one facing the Saint Joseph Building. Each sampling station consisted of one rack containing the exposed roofing specimens and one louvre box housing the sodium chloride traps and the sulfur dioxide traps. Periodic sampling of the roofing specimens, the sodium chloride traps and the sulfur dioxide traps were conducted. Atmospheric data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, or PAG-ASA, and the results of the tests on the two most aggressive atmospheric corrodents were correlated with the actual corrosion rate of the exposed roofing specimens