The purpose of this investigation was to determine the comparative corrosion resistance of stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, magnesium alloy, aluminum alloy, cold rolled steel, and galvanized iron when immersed in various insecticide solutions. The eight metals were immersed in fourteen test solutions for eight weeks and periodic observations were made to determine the extent of corrosion. Weight loss and pitting, as a result of the eight-week immersion, were also determined.
It is concluded that:
DDT in water displays a definite tendency to inhibit corrosion;
2-4-D inhibited corrosion on all metals tested;
Chlorodane is a corrosive acid insecticide;
Insecticides in kerosene or a fuel oil base are not corrosive;
The most corrosive insecticide solutions are chlorodane in water, sodium arsenite in water, and DDT in salt water;
Stainless steel is the only completely corrosionresistant metal;
Aluminum is of satisfactory corrosion resistance in all of the solutions except sodium arsenite.
It is recommended that aluminum, aluminum alloys, and Alclad, both with and without a corrosion inhibiting pretreatment such as anodizing, be investigated for their corrosion resistance to chlorodane in water, sodium arsenite in water, and DDT in salt water.
