The Dangers of Corrosion in Data Centers

Corrosion is a critical issue that can jeopardize the functionality of a data center’s IT infrastructure, resulting in severe operational and financial consequences. Data centers are highly sensitive environments that require optimal air quality to prevent damage to their electronics. Even minor exposure to airborne contaminants can escalate into major disruptions, leading to hardware malfunctions, data loss, and costly downtime.

Why is Corrosion a Serious Risk for Data Centers?

1. Accelerated Hardware Degradation

Electronic components within data centers, such as servers, switches, circuit boards, and other vital equipment, contain sensitive metal parts. Metals like copper and silver, commonly used in electronics due to their conductive properties, are particularly vulnerable to gaseous pollutants such as:

• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S): A gas commonly found near landfills, sewage systems, and in industrial emissions, H2S can cause tarnishing and corrosion of copper and silver, leading to failure of circuit boards, connectors, and hard drives.
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): Emitted from fossil fuel combustion, SO2 is highly corrosive to electronic components. This gas reacts with humidity to form sulfurous acid, accelerating the deterioration of metal parts, particularly in environments with high temperatures.
• Chlorine and Bromine: These halogens, found in industrial emissions, can damage metal components by forming corrosive compounds that lead to pitting, a type of localized corrosion that can severely degrade the performance of electronics.
• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): These are primarily released from high-density traffic and industrial sites. When NOx reacts with moisture in the air, it forms nitric acid, which can corrode sensitive equipment.

Impact on Hardware: The presence of these gases accelerates the oxidation process, which can lead to:

• Electrical short circuits due to corroded connectors and wiring.
• Failure of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) as copper traces and solder joints are damaged.
• Degradation of cooling systems, affecting the ability to maintain optimal operating temperatures.

2. Data Loss and Corruption

Data centers are responsible for hosting mission-critical data for businesses and users worldwide. Corrosion-induced hardware failures, such as the breakdown of storage drives, servers, or backup systems, can result in:

• Partial or complete loss of data. If hard drives or data storage systems suffer corrosion-related failures, data can be irreversibly lost.
• Data corruption: Even if the hardware is still functional, corroded circuits or connectors can cause data errors, leading to the corruption of files.
• Interrupted data access: In some cases, corroded systems can lead to slow or unreliable access to stored information, disrupting business operations.

These consequences are particularly harmful to industries like finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, where data integrity and uptime are essential to daily operations. For businesses that depend on 24/7 access to data, even brief periods of downtime or loss of data could result in severe reputational and financial damage.

3. Increased Downtime

Corrosion in data center hardware can lead to significant operational challenges, including unplanned maintenance and repairs, which ultimately cause downtime. In 2024, the global market for data center hardware integrated systems is thriving, with total revenue reaching $6.06 billion, reflecting a remarkable 77.0% increase from the previous year. While integrated reference architecture has seen impressive growth of 175.4%, the threat of corrosion remains a pressing concern that can undermine this progress. Even minor corrosion can result in failures of critical components such as hard drives and circuit boards, leading to costly repairs and interruptions in service. Therefore, as demand for efficient data center solutions rises, proactive measures for corrosion monitoring and control become essential to maintain high uptime and protect valuable data assets.

Corrosion-related failures often require immediate intervention, which can involve:

• Replacement of damaged components: The need for new parts, especially in mission-critical systems, can take time to procure and install.
• Extended diagnostics and repairs: Diagnosing the root cause of a failure due to corrosion can be a time-consuming process, as the damage might not always be visible.
• Reconfiguration of affected systems: Once new components are installed, system reboots, testing, and configuration adjustments may be necessary, further delaying the restoration of full operations.

These downtimes not only impact the data center but can also disrupt customer-facing services, resulting in lost revenue, diminished productivity, and potential legal consequences if Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are violated.

The Importance of Corrosion Control in Data Centers

Corrosion control plays a critical role in ensuring the longevity, reliability, and efficiency of data centers. Data centers house sensitive electronic equipment that is highly vulnerable to environmental pollutants. By implementing corrosion control measures, data centers can protect both the hardware and the valuable data they store. Monitoring and managing the indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential to avoid major failures, reduce operational costs, and maintain business continuity.

Key Benefits of Corrosion Control

1. Extended Equipment Lifespan:
   Corrosion weakens metal components, leading to premature hardware failure. Regular corrosion control efforts—such as air filtration, monitoring pollutant levels, and cleaning—help preserve critical IT infrastructure. This ensures that servers, switches, and other essential devices function optimally over extended periods, reducing the need for early replacements.
2. Reduced Maintenance Costs:
   Proactive corrosion prevention minimizes the need for constant repairs or replacements. Preventing the degradation of sensitive equipment significantly cuts down on maintenance expenses, allowing data center operators to allocate their budgets more effectively.
3. Improved Employee Safety:
   Airborne contaminants in data centers not only corrode equipment but also pose health risks to employees. High levels of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can lower indoor air quality, making the work environment unsafe. By controlling corrosion, data centers can ensure a healthier and safer atmosphere for their staff.
4. Protection of Valuable Data:
   As hardware fails, the risk of data loss and corruption increases. Corrosion control helps maintain the integrity of servers and storage systems, thus protecting valuable business and personal data. This is especially important for industries like finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, where data security is paramount.
5. Reduced Downtime:
   Equipment failures caused by corrosion often result in unexpected system shutdowns, which can be costly for data centers. Preventing these failures through regular corrosion monitoring and mitigation reduces downtime, ensures smooth operations, and avoids financial losses.

Major Pollutants in Data Centers

A poorly maintained data center is susceptible to a range of airborne contaminants, each of which can accelerate corrosion. The most common pollutants include:

• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S): Often found near landfills and sewage systems, this gas can cause severe corrosion on copper and silver components.
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): Emitted by industrial processes and heavy traffic, SO2 can lead to the rapid deterioration of electronic components.
• Bromine and Chlorine: Commonly present in polluted environments, these gases attack the metal surfaces within data centers, leading to failures in sensitive electronics.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Found in high-density traffic areas and industrial regions, NOx compounds contribute to corrosive conditions, impacting hardware reliability.

Data Centers at High Risk for Corrosion

While all data centers need to consider corrosion control, certain locations are at higher risk due to environmental factors. These include:

• High-Temperature Locations: Warm climates exacerbate the effects of corrosive gases, accelerating the degradation of metal components.
• Near Landfill Sites or Sewers/Drains: These areas can emit harmful gases such as methane, H2S, and other pollutants that contribute to corrosion.
• Proximity to Process Industries or High-Density Traffic: Industrial emissions and vehicle exhausts release a variety of corrosive substances that can infiltrate data centers and damage equipment.
• Polluted Environments: Data centers in urban or industrialized areas are more prone to contamination from airborne pollutants.

Corrosion Testing and Control Methods

Effective corrosion control begins with regular testing and monitoring to detect contaminants in the data center environment. Some of the common corrosion testing methods include:

• Corrosion Coupons: Thin metal strips placed in the data center environment to measure the extent of corrosion over time.
• Airborne Contaminant Analysis: Testing air samples to identify the presence of corrosive gases and pollutants.
• Real-Time Corrosion Monitoring Sensors: These sensors continuously monitor the data center environment, providing instant alerts if corrosion risks increase.

In addition to monitoring, implementing corrosion control filtration equipment can help maintain safe air quality levels within data centers. This equipment removes harmful gases from the environment, protecting sensitive hardware from exposure to corrosive elements.

How Can Corrosion Be Prevented?

To mitigate the risks associated with corrosion, data centers should implement comprehensive corrosion control and monitoring strategies:

• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring: Continuously track the levels of airborne contaminants to detect early signs of pollution.
• Corrosion-resistant materials: Use components made from or coated with corrosion-resistant materials to reduce the risk of hardware degradation.
• Environmental control systems: Data centers located near high-risk areas, such as industrial zones or landfills, should use advanced filtration systems to purify the air and remove harmful gases before they reach sensitive equipment.
• Regular maintenance and cleaning protocols: Routine cleaning of critical environments by specialized services, like Data Clean Asia, can help remove accumulated contaminants and reduce the likelihood of corrosion.

By implementing these preventive measures, data centers can not only protect their hardware but also ensure business continuity, secure data integrity, and reduce costly downtime.

Why Choose Data Clean Asia?

At Data Clean Asia, we go beyond basic cleaning. In addition to our specialized environment cleaning and decontamination services, we offer expert consulting tailored to your data center’s specific needs. Our team provides contamination analysis and remediation of corrosive gases, ensuring that your data center remains free from the risks of corrosion.

Whether you’re looking to protect your hardware from failure, improve indoor air quality, or reduce maintenance costs, Data Clean Asia’s industry-leading services can help you achieve peace of mind.

Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can safeguard your data center from the risks of corrosion with our unbeatable expertise and hands-on industry experience.