How is corrosion from clad aluminium alloys removed?

• A. Mechanical removal
• B. Prepsol
• C. Wipe with oily cloth
• D. Chemical removal is recommended

Answer: (D)

Clad aluminium alloys have a very thin outer layer of aluminum to give corrosion protection, with a different core alloy beneath. When corrosion forms on this material, you don’t want to remove metal by scrubbing, because that thin cladding can be easily damaged or removed, exposing the more corrosion-susceptible core. Using a chemical corrosion remover targets the corrosion products themselves and dissolves them without abrading the protective cladding, allowing you to clean the surface while preserving the underlying metal. This controlled, surface‑level cleaning is safer for clad materials than mechanical methods, which can gouge or remove the cladding and create new corrosion sites. If the cladding is already compromised, repairs or cladding replacement would be required, but for removal of corrosion products on clad aluminum, chemical removal is the appropriate method.