The corrosion of metallic materials is influenced by many factors, which can be attributed to both material and work environment.
Corrosion process of metals is slow, yet unstoppable and irreversible. The ISO 9223 standard divides the environment into different corrosion categories, according to the following parameters: temperature, relative humidity, deposition of sulfur dioxide and sodium chloride deposition. For example, in coastal marine environments, the presence of sodium chloride – NaCl in the form of salt solution suspended in the air affects the resistance of metallic products: the NaCl deposition, which depends on the distance from the coast, can be between 5 and 500 mg / (m2 ∙day), but it can also exceed 1,500 mg / (m2 ∙day) in places very close to the coast. Since usually the lighting bodies for urban lighting are made from die-cast aluminum, when they are exposed to aggressive environmental conditions – such as coastal or pollutants-rich environments – they are subject to corrosion under organic coating phenomena (delamination, blistering), with a consequent structural embrittlement and a changing of their aesthetics: this results in replacement costs and worsening of the related environmental footprint.
Why using polymers
Corrosion prevention is carried out to safeguard the stability, functionality and aesthetics of products operating in aggressive environments, so that they can keep the required levels of reliability and quality during their service life. This is why polymers are increasingly used to replace metallic materials.
LORELUX® luminaires are made from a specific polymeric material, sustainable and 100% recyclable, which is obtained by polyolefin blends containing up to 98% PSV (Second Life Plastic) certified post-consumer polyethylene.
The selected polymer makes it possible to obtain luminaires immune to corrosion, mechanically resistant and compliant with the requirements of the lighting standard (CEI EN 60598-2-3).