George Skoublis, KF9YR, asked:
> Is there any galvanic action to worry about when using
> galvanized u-bolts with an aluminum boom?
The zinc coating on the steel, which makes it galvanized, is
more compatible with aluminum than any of the various
stainless steels from an electrolytic standpoint.
There is about a 0.4 to 0.5 volt difference between common
stainless steels and typical aluminum alloys. Compare this to
about 0.1 to 0.15 volt difference between zinc and these same
aluminum alloys. From a corrosion standpoint, you want this
potential difference to be as low as possible.
The only problem is that plated zinc hardware has such a thin
coating of zinc that the zinc is quickly depleted. Hot-dipped
galvanized hardware is to be much preferred.
73, Dr. Barry L. Ornitz WA4VZQ ornitz@tricon.net
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