Corrosion copper alloys

Sulfides are directly aggressive to many metals. In particular, copper alloy corrosion is severe (Fig. 4.20). Sulfides are easily detected in the... 

Copper-alloy corrosion behavior depends on the alloying elements added. Alloying copper with zinc increases corrosion rates in caustic solutions whereas nickel additions decrease corrosion rates. Silicon bronzes containing between 95% and 98% copper have corrosion rates as low as 2 mil/y (0.051 mm/y) at 140°F (60°C) in 30% caustic solutions. Figure 8.2 shows the corrosion rate in a 50% caustic soda evaporator as a function of nickel content. As is obvious, the corrosion rate falls to even lower values as nickel concentration increases. Caustic solutions attack zinc brasses at rates of 2 to 20 mil/y (0.051 to 0.51 mm/y). 

In certain direct steam-contact process applications (such as in food and beverage processing or pharmaceutical preparations) the use of amine-based products in steam and condensate systems is subject to legal restrictions. Also, the use of ammonia or amines may be dependent on the materials of construction employed or technical limitations (such as the risk of copper alloy corrosion). 

Chadwick D, Hashemi T. Adsorbed corrosion inhibitors studied by electron spectroscopy Benzotriazole on copper and copper alloys. Corrosion Sci 1978 18 359. 

Concentrations of copper in seawater can cause accelerated corrosion of metalUc components. In unpolluted seawater, the copper concentration is 0.2 ppb, which is typically not high enough to influence a metal s corrosion behavior. If, however, the copper concentration is increased above approximately 30 ppb, corrosion of aluminum alloys can occur. The copper concentration may be increased due to a number of factors including copper leaching from antifouling paints, pollutants containing copper, or nearby copper alloy corrosion. If the copper deposits onto aluminum... 

Copper Copper Alloy Corrosion Resistance Database, http / /protection.copper.org/database.htm, 1998. 

COPPERALLOYS-WROUGHT COPPERAND WROUGHT COPPER ALLOYS] pol7) -corrosion of [CORROSION AND CORROSION CONTEOL] pol 7)... 

Lead-copper alloys Lead corrosion Lead crystal Lead cyanide... 

Lead—copper alloys are specified because of superior mechanical properties, creep resistance, corrosion resistance, and high temperature stabiUty compared to pure lead. The mechanical properties of lead—copper alloys are compared to pure lead, and to lead—antimony and lead—calcium alloys in Tables 4 and 5. 

Nickel—Copper. In the soHd state, nickel and copper form a continuous soHd solution. The nickel-rich, nickel—copper alloys are characterized by a good compromise of strength and ductihty and are resistant to corrosion and stress corrosion ia many environments, ia particular water and seawater, nonoxidizing acids, neutral and alkaline salts, and alkaUes. These alloys are weldable and are characterized by elevated and high temperature mechanical properties for certain appHcations. The copper content ia these alloys also easure improved thermal coaductivity for heat exchange. MONEL alloy 400 is a typical nickel-rich, nickel—copper alloy ia which the nickel content is ca 66 wt %. MONEL alloy K-500 is essentially alloy 400 with small additions of aluminum and titanium. Aging of alloy K-500 results in very fine y -precipitates and increased strength (see also Copper alloys). 

Copper and tin phosphides are used as deoxidants in the production of the respective metals, to increase the tensile strength and corrosion resistance in phosphor bronze [12767-50-9] and as components of brazing solders (see Solders and brazing alloys). Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper and 1.25—11 wt % tin. As tin may be completely oxidized in a copper alloy in the form of stannic oxide, 0.03—0.35 wt % phosphoms is added to deoxidize the alloy. Phosphor copper [12643-19-5] is prepared by the addition of phosphoms to molten copper. Phosphor tin [66579-64-4] 2.5—3 wt % P, is made for the deoxidation of bronzes and German silver. 

Mild steel can be used for transport and storage if product discoloration is not a problem, such as in gas conditioning appHcations. Contact with copper, brass, and other copper alloys may cause corrosion of the metal. 

Aniline is slightly corrosive to some metals. It attacks copper, brass, and other copper alloys, and use of these metals should be avoided in equipment that is used to handle aniline. For appHcations in which color retention is critical, the use of 400-series stainless steels is recommended. 

Feedwater treatment is designed to protect the feedwater system and, to some extent, the boiler. Most systems contain carbon steel piping. Carbon steel corrosion (Fig. 23a) is considerably slower at a pH between 9.0 and 11.0. In aH-ferrous feedwater systems, the preferred pH range is therefore 9.2 to 9.6, although some systems are operated at a pH as high as 10. In systems where copper alloys are present, high concentrations of ammonia accelerate corrosion of the copper alloys. In those systems the preferred pH is 8.8—9.2. 

Shipment nd Stora.ge, Sulfur monochloride is minimally corrosive to carbon steel and iron when dry. If it is necessary to avoid discoloration caused by iron sulfide formation or chloride stress cracking, 310 stainless steel should be used. Sulfur monochloride is shipped in tank cars, tank tmcks, and steel dmms. When wet, it behaves like hydrochloric acid and attacks steel, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steels, copper and copper alloys, and many nickel-based materials. Alloys of 62 Ni—28 Mo and 54 Ni—15 Cr—16 Mo are useful under these conditions. Under DOT HM-181 sulfur monochloride is classified as a Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) Zone B, as well as a Corrosive Material (DOT Hazard Class B). Shipment information is available (140). 

Minor additions of arsenic (0.02—0.5%) to copper (qv) and copper alloys (qv) raise the recrystaUization temperature and improve corrosion resistance. In some brass alloys, small amounts of arsenic inhibit de2incification (22), and minimise season cracking. 

Carbon disulfide is normally stored and handled in mild steel equipment. Tanks and pipes are usually made from steel. Valves are typically cast-steel bodies with chrome steel trim. Lead is sometimes used, particularly for pressure reUef disks. Copper and copper alloys are attacked by carbon disulfide and must be avoided. Carbon disulfide Hquid and vapor become very corrosive to iron and steel at temperatures above about 250°C. High chromium stainless steels, glass, and ceramics maybe suitable at elevated temperatures. 

Solutions of citric acid are corrosive to normal concrete,aluniinum, carbon steel, copper, copper alloys, and should not be used with nylon. 

Table 8. Relative Susceptibility to Stress Corrosion and Dealloying of Commercial Copper Alloys...

Copper—Nickels. The copper—nickel alloy system is essentially single phase across its entire range. Alloys made from this system are easily fabricated by casting, forming, and welding. They are noted for excellent tarnishing and corrosion resistance. Commercial copper alloys extend from 5 to 40 wt % nickel. Monel is a nickel—copper alloy that is outside of this range and contains 29—53 wt % of copper. 

Iron is added in small (usually 0.5—1.0 wt %) amounts to increase strength. More importantly, iron additions also enhance corrosion resistance, especially when precautions are taken to retain the iron in solution. Precipitation of the iron—nickel-rich phase does not result in strengthening and can cause degradation of corrosion resistance (47). A small (up to 1.0 wt %) amount of manganese is usually added to both react with sulfur and deoxidi2e the melt. These copper alloys are most commonly applied where corrosion resistance is paramount, as in condenser tube or heat exchangers. 

Copper and copper alloys resist corrosion by most food products. Traces of copper may be dissolved and affect taste or metals are often tin coated. 

The contact ends of printed circuit boards are copper. Alloys of nickel and iron are used as substrates in hermetic connectors in which glass (qv) is the dielectric material. Terminals are fabricated from brass or copper from nickel, for high temperature appHcations from aluminum, when aluminum conductors are used and from steel when high strength is required. Because steel has poor corrosion resistance, it is always plated using a protective metal, such as tin (see Tin and tin alloys). Other substrates can be unplated when high contact normal forces, usually more than 5 N, are available to mechanically dismpt insulating oxide films on the surfaces and thereby assure metaUic contact (see Corrosion and corrosion control). 

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