Dezincification 2

Brasses containing 15 to ~37% zinc will dezincify in aggressive waters, but this can be prevented by small additions of arsenic. What is sometimes forgotten is that other alloying elements can have a high zinc equivalence and, if present in significant quantities, can make a notionally single phase brass two phase, and hence susceptible to dezincification. Silicon and aluminium have high zinc equivalence factors and it is important to keep the quantity of these elements low or reduce the zinc content to compensate (as is done with aluminium brass). Where doubt about the composition exists, insist on a corrosion test to BS EN ISO 6509, which will demonstrate resistance to dezincification.

Posted on: 7th May 2016

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Image (top left) by Agnieszka