Vapor Corrosion Cell

The presence of corrosives in the Earth's atmosphere is of global concern. From acid rains that are destroying forests and disfiguring monuments like the Parthenon and the pyramids, to atmospheric pollutants that produce smog and induce emphysema in a significant number of people, the introduction of corrosives and other pollutants into the atmosphere is a critical and continuing environmental issue. No less critical to the space program is the presence of corrosives (reactive gases and water vapor) that are generated as byproducts of the launch process. The vapor corrosion cell developed for Johnson Space Center can be used to detect corrosives early in the formation process; that is, before significant quantities are vented into the atmosphere.