Corrosion behavior of pure aluminum in a marine atmospheric environment and evolution of electrochemical and mechanical properties

Aluminum and its alloys are widely recognized as strategic materials for structural and transportation applications due to their low density and corrosion resistance. However, anthropogenic factors associated with climate change and pollutant accumulation in coastal regions induce electrochemical alterations that progressively degrade mechanical performance, challenging assumptions of durability and reliability. This study presents a novel integrated analysis of pure aluminum exposed to multiple coastal environments, simultaneously evaluating electrochemical and mechanical degradation — a correlation rarely addressed in the available literature. Four coastal stations with distinct atmospheric corrosivity levels were characterized to quantify environmental influence. Electrochemical assessments revealed differentiated corrosion mechanisms, while mechanical testing demonstrated a significant reduction in fracture toughness, directly associated with oxide layer morphology and corrosion product evolution. The findings demonstrate that aluminum behavior in marine environments cannot be generalized, since performance exhibits a strong dependence on atmospheric conditions governing oxide layer formation, thickness, and stability. Fracture toughness emerged as a more sensitive indicator of degradation than conventional tensile testing, introducing a critical parameter for reliability assessment. This study advances understanding of the coupled electrochemical–mechanical deterioration process, providing essential criteria for predictive modeling and material selection in coastal applications. Anticipating aluminum performance under increasingly aggressive conditions is fundamental for the design of lightweight, reliable, and sustainable structures in the context of climate change.