Rust is a type of corrosion (the wearing-away of metal), and to put it simply, aluminium does not rust, but it does corrode. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are fundamentally different. As with any metal, when it comes into contact with oxygen, an oxide layer will form on aluminium.

Does aluminium corrode easily?

Aluminum is actually very prone to corrosion. However, aluminum corrosion is aluminum oxide, a very hard material that actually protects the aluminum from further corrosion. Aluminum oxide corrosion also looks a lot more like aluminum (dull gray to powdery white in color), so it isn’t as easy to notice as rusted iron.

How do you keep aluminum from corroding?

You can also have aluminum clear coated for protection against corrosion. Clear coating involves the application of a protective layer over the surface of the aluminum. Some aluminum products feature an invisible clear coat layer that protects the metal from the environment.

What Does Aluminum Corrosion Look Like? Rather than flaking through like rust, aluminum oxide just forms a hard, whitish-colored surface skin.