Platinum ring?

[SecondCityCorals]

I feel like this is a stupid question. But some quick googling and I could not find much, and especially nothing with some definitive science in it.

I know saltwater is corrosive to most metals. But I’m curious. Just got married today and am doing some maintenance before bed. Will my platinum ring get damaged easily if it gets salt water on it? I mean assuming I’m not spending an inordinate amount of time with my hands in the tank. Just removing pumps, mounting frags and whatnot. I won’t be severely or noticeably damaging the metal or leeching it into the tank will I?

Do all of your married folks take your ring off when working in the hobby?

 

[blaxsun]

Yep, lose the ring.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Of note is that platinum is highly resistant to corrosion and has low reactivity. Most commercial rings are 95% platinum and 5% some other heavy metal. I wouldn't want those in my tank, but they're also not going to be attacked nearly as aggressively as say electrical connections. I would honestly just get a pair of elbow length gloves. You can find a decent pair for 15-20 bucks. This way toxins or metals on your skin are less likely to get into the tank. Requirement? No, but you eliminate a lot of unneeded risk.

 

[MichaelP]

You will be fine I have a platinum ring as well and no issues with the ring or the tank and I never take it off.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think a good quality platinum or gold ring will not be degraded from exposure to a reef tank.

https://www.parrinst.com/wp-content...conel-Incoloy-Monel-Nickel-Corrosion-Info.pdf
"Only gold and platinum are completely resistant to attack in aqueous solutions. "

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

https://www.usna.edu/NAOE/_files/do...rse_Notes/zAppendix_B_Material_Properties.pdf
Material Composition Density,  (lb/in3 )
Platinum 99.85% Pt 0.775
Elastic Modulus, E (psi) Yield Strength, y (ksi) Tensile Strength, u (ksi)
21 x 106 - 25 x 106 27 (50% Cold Worked) 28 - 30 (50% Cold Worked)
Potential in Seawater, ref. S.C.E. (V)
Corrosion Types Suffered Uses +0.20 to +0.35
Completely resistant to marine corrosion. Impressed current anodes and electrical contacts.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

@Randy Holmes-Farley should I be worried about my titanium ring?

 

[X-37B]

Long ago, and they probably still do , we used platinum in cyanide salt solutuon for plating gold and silver onto integrated circuits.
All nuts and bolts were titainium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley should I be worried about my titanium ring?

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?A...sion are,resistance of titanium to corrosion.
from it:

"Titanium resists corrosion by seawater to temperatures as high as 500°F (260°C). Titanium tubing, exposed for 16 years to polluted seawater in a surface condenser, was slightly discolored but showed no evidence of corrosion. Titanium has provided over thirty years of trouble-free seawater service for the chemical, oil refining and desalination industries.

Exposure of titanium for many years to depths of over a mile below the ocean surface has not produced any measurable corrosion. Pitting and crevice corrosion are totally absent, even if marine deposits form. The presence of sulfides in seawater does not affect the resistance of titanium to corrosion. Exposure of titanium to marine atmospheres or splash or tide zone does not cause corrosion."

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?A...sion are,resistance of titanium to corrosion.
from it:

"Titanium resists corrosion by seawater to temperatures as high as 500°F (260°C). Titanium tubing, exposed for 16 years to polluted seawater in a surface condenser, was slightly discolored but showed no evidence of corrosion. Titanium has provided over thirty years of trouble-free seawater service for the chemical, oil refining and desalination industries.

Exposure of titanium for many years to depths of over a mile below the ocean surface has not produced any measurable corrosion. Pitting and crevice corrosion are totally absent, even if marine deposits form. The presence of sulfides in seawater does not affect the resistance of titanium to corrosion. Exposure of titanium to marine atmospheres or splash or tide zone does not cause corrosion."

Thank you! I had never thought to worry about it and I guess I don't have to

 

[SecondCityCorals]

Thanks! Now I don’t have to take it off. I am always losing things wherever I set them down so this makes my life easier.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)

 

[jsmkmavity]

Rhodium should be even more resistant to corrosion. Hopefully @Randy Holmes-Farley can confirm (or correct) this. It is very expensive so it is normally used to plate gold or other metals to give the corrosion resistance in a silver color (white gold).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Rhodium should be even more resistant to corrosion. Hopefully @Randy Holmes-Farley can confirm (or correct) this. It is very expensive so it is normally used to plate gold or other metals to give the corrosion resistance in a silver color (white gold).

Yes, rhodium is very stable in seawater. :)