Mixing Titanium with Aluminium?

[madlan]

Hi all,

I have a system that's using aluminium water blocks with a titanium piped chiller (no other metals), has anyone mixed these two? I'm thinking of adding a full bottle of Mayhems 15ml inhibitor (system is about 5 litres) and changing out every six months. (+ Mayhems biocide, hoses are clear but this is a purely functional system so asthetics do not matter)

Any experience or advice most welcome!

Thanks.

 

[Zefan]

I am by no means well versed in the mixing metals game, however if you look up the galvanic series/corrosion charts you'll see they're on opposite ends of the series, which makes them even more incompatible with each other than the more traditional copper:aluminium scenario. That's in theory, in practice it may differ.

 

[madlan]

That's what's got me thinking, I did some googling:

The coupling of titanium with dissimilar metals usually does not accelerate the corrosion of the titanium. The exception is in reducing environments where titanium does not passivate. Under these conditions, it has a potential similar to aluminium and will undergo accelerated corrosion when coupled to other more noble metals.

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1241

I'm wondering if concentrated inhibitor changed on a regular basis would extend the life of the aluminium to an acceptable level.

 

[pugheaven]

That's what's got me thinking, I did some googling:


https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1241

I'm wondering if concentrated inhibitor changed on a regular basis would extend the life of the aluminium to an acceptable level.

Well, I've got all sorts in my loop I've just built and frankly I don't care, just put the best liquids in and see what happens is my view and prove myself. My mate had cheap rads with 4 different metals in his loop, 5 years later we took it apart for the first time, and nothing, we could see nothing cleaned it all out and put it together with fresh liquid... so, personally, I'll see what I see personally...

 

[madlan]

What liquid did you use if I may ask?

 

[EsaT]

That's what's got me thinking, I did some googling:


https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1241

I'm wondering if concentrated inhibitor changed on a regular basis would extend the life of the aluminium to an acceptable level.

That considers only titanium's corrosion.
As it's more anodic/"less noble" metal which is consumed by galvanic corrosion and titanium is quite highly cathodic/noble it's no wonder that contact with other metals add little to its corrosion.

But looking that aluminium in contact with titanium...
That's like galvanic anode in boat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_anode

 

[madlan]

What about a piece of zinc in the system to act as a sacrificial anode?

 

[EsaT]

What about a piece of zinc in the system to act as a sacrificial anode?

Material corroding from sacrificial anode doesn't magically stop being existing.
And with no way to drop away like some rust from vehicles or dissolving into water from ship, it would stay in loop.

 

[pugheaven]

What liquid did you use if I may ask?

He's used EK which is what I've now put in mine, EK Cryo is it, the clear stuff. If it worked in his, it'll work in mine hopefully, time will tell hahaha