My utility trailer has a sheet metal floor, but it has rusted through
in the 25 years I've had it, so I'm gonna cut it out. I got a good
deal on a sheet of 1/4" diamond plate aluminum, so that will be my new
floor.

I'm a little concerned about galvanic corrosion due to the plate
resting on the steel understructure, and my plan on using steel bolts
to secure the plate (flat-heads countersunk in the plate and screwed
into holes tapped in the frame).

Are my concerns warranted, and if so, what can I do to mitigate any
problems ?

On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:18:55 -0400, Joe wrote:

My utility trailer has a sheet metal floor, but it has rusted through
in the 25 years I've had it, so I'm gonna cut it out. I got a good
deal on a sheet of 1/4" diamond plate aluminum, so that will be my new
floor.

I'm a little concerned about galvanic corrosion due to the plate
resting on the steel understructure, and my plan on using steel bolts
to secure the plate (flat-heads countersunk in the plate and screwed
into holes tapped in the frame).

Are my concerns warranted, and if so, what can I do to mitigate any
problems ?

Yes you will have galvanic corrosion (if the trailer gets wet :-). One
solution is to use a sealant between the two materials.

With a similar problem - stainless bolts in aluminum fittings, in a
marine environment, I once used 3M 5200 Adhesive Sealant which is a
high-performance polyurethane adhesive sealant that stays flexible and
waterproof, yet resists weathering and salt water.

Several years after installation I had reason to disassemble part of
the structure and found no signs of corrosion.
Cheers,
John B.

On 7/28/2012 8:56 PM, John B. wrote:
On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:18:55 -0400, wrote:

My utility trailer has a sheet metal floor, but it has rusted through
in the 25 years I've had it, so I'm gonna cut it out. I got a good
deal on a sheet of 1/4" diamond plate aluminum, so that will be my new
floor.

I'm a little concerned about galvanic corrosion due to the plate
resting on the steel understructure, and my plan on using steel bolts
to secure the plate (flat-heads countersunk in the plate and screwed
into holes tapped in the frame).

Are my concerns warranted, and if so, what can I do to mitigate any
problems ?

Yes you will have galvanic corrosion (if the trailer gets wet :-). One
solution is to use a sealant between the two materials.

With a similar problem - stainless bolts in aluminum fittings, in a
marine environment, I once used 3M 5200 Adhesive Sealant which is a
high-performance polyurethane adhesive sealant that stays flexible and
waterproof, yet resists weathering and salt water.

Several years after installation I had reason to disassemble part of
the structure and found no signs of corrosion.
Cheers,
John B.


I use Ultra Tef-Gel on the bolts to prevent problems when using
stainless hardware on aluminum.

On Saturday, July 28, 2012 12:18:55 PM UTC-7, jgandalf wrote:
My utility trailer has a sheet metal floor, but it has rusted through

in the 25 years I've had it, so I'm gonna cut it out. I got a good

deal on a sheet of 1/4" diamond plate aluminum, so that will be my new

floor.



I'm a little concerned about galvanic corrosion ... plan on using steel bolts

to secure the plate (flat-heads countersunk in the plate

The bed will get wet, right? So, fasten it with blind aluminum fasteners
(aluminum rivets would be ideal) to a substructure that bolts to the steel.
The wet surface will be aluminum vs. aluminum (no galvanic corrosion)
and the brackets that bolt to the steel can be ... sacrificial. Use of nonconducting
washers may help, too.

"Joe" wrote in message
...
My utility trailer has a sheet metal floor, but it has rusted through
in the 25 years I've had it, so I'm gonna cut it out. I got a good
deal on a sheet of 1/4" diamond plate aluminum, so that will be my new
floor.

I'm a little concerned about galvanic corrosion due to the plate
resting on the steel understructure, and my plan on using steel bolts
to secure the plate (flat-heads countersunk in the plate and screwed
into holes tapped in the frame).

Are my concerns warranted, and if so, what can I do to mitigate any
problems ?

Wherever there is steel to aluminium contact you will get galvanic
corrosion over time. If you can find out the valency of the steel,
mild steel bolts and aluminium you can get the closest valency
match which will reduce/slow the corrosion. SS bolts are far
worse than mild steel bolts for causing corrosion as their valency
is much greater and they react with the steel and the aluminium.

If you use steel washers over the aluminium you are just enlarging the
area of the corrosion.

The corrosion will occur whether wet or dry, the moisture in the air
will assist the corrosion but does not double the rate.

"Why are people so cruel" wrote in
nd.com:


"Joe" wrote in message
...
My utility trailer has a sheet metal floor, but it has rusted through
in the 25 years I've had it, so I'm gonna cut it out. I got a good
deal on a sheet of 1/4" diamond plate aluminum, so that will be my new
floor.

I'm a little concerned about galvanic corrosion due to the plate
resting on the steel understructure, and my plan on using steel bolts
to secure the plate (flat-heads countersunk in the plate and screwed
into holes tapped in the frame).

Are my concerns warranted, and if so, what can I do to mitigate any
problems ?

Wherever there is steel to aluminium contact you will get galvanic
corrosion over time. If you can find out the valency of the steel,
mild steel bolts and aluminium you can get the closest valency
match which will reduce/slow the corrosion. SS bolts are far
worse than mild steel bolts for causing corrosion as their valency
is much greater and they react with the steel and the aluminium.

If you use steel washers over the aluminium you are just enlarging the
area of the corrosion.

The corrosion will occur whether wet or dry, the moisture in the air
will assist the corrosion but does not double the rate.




This is an extremely common problem in marine applications and the
techniques for minimising the corrosion are well established.

Although stainless fastenings are worse galvanically, at least they dont
rust and expand, disrupting the protective oxide layer of the aluminium.
The problem then becomes protecting the aluminium from the steel
(stainless or not). The heads of the fastenings are relatively small
area and are unlikely to cause a significant problem if the correct
sealent is used to exclude air and moisture from the interface. The main
problem is the large area of contact between the sheet and the frame. If
any moisture is trapped here, you *WILL* get poltice corrosion.

http://www.google.com/search?q=poultice+corrosion

You need a non-moisture absorbing insulating layer between the aluminium
and the steel frame + sealent between the insulator and the aluminium.
You should also use sealent between the insulator and the steel. If you
are through bolting, use fibre washers under the nuts to protect the
steel from the stainless.

For all dissimilar metal fastenings exposed to moisture, especially in
aluminium, use Duralac sealent to exclude moisture and inhibit
electrolytic action.

http://www.llewellyn-ryland.co.uk/duralac.html

Apply to all mating surfaces, screw threads etc.

It is my personal experiance that a stainless fastener in an aluminium
boat mast (frequently wet with salt spray) will typically cause no
noticable corrosion over a ten year period if properly assembled with
Duralac. Its use is pretty much industry standard.

--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & 32K emails -- NUL

"Why are people so cruel" wrote

...SS bolts are far
worse than mild steel bolts for causing corrosion as their valency
is much greater and they react with the steel and the aluminium.

Your science is as good as your politics.

"When did the right to bear arms to protect the state from
invasion, become the right to bear arms to protect the
person/property from an internal (to the state) threat."