The influence of mixed maritime atmosphere on the degradation of metallic components of exposed solar thermal collectors was analyzed.

Extremely high corrosion rates for all exposed metal samples in the open atmosphere were recorded.

Inside a commercial flat-plate thermal collector for Al and Zn medium and high and for Fe and Cu only very low atmospheric corrosion was recorded.

The influence of observed microclimatic conditions on the durability of different absorber surfaces was investigated as well.

The optical measurements showed very good stability of absorber samples after the exposition.

The reflectance spectra of samples from open and sheltered atmospheres were measured to get information about the reaction course.

The results of this study bring new insights into environmentally induced degradation processes of absorber surfaces.