Corrosion of brass
Brass is basically a material that is characterized by high corrosion resistance. Even under difficult conditions and chemical influences, brass is usually still very stable. However, you can read here which types of corrosion can occur in brass and what dezincification means.
Corrosion-promoting substances in brass
Brass is also very resistant to corrosion in the water. Moisture is not a problem for most brass materials. There are two basic forms of brass: alpha brass and beta brass. The beta form is a bit more prone to corrosion than the alpha mixed crystals.
pitting
Above all, the beta-brass is less resistant to chemicals than the alpha-form. Especially strong acids (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid) can lead to dezincification due to the high zinc content in these types of brass.
Sponge copper forms on the surface, which can lead to pitting. The workpiece is often completely destroyed.
Stress corrosion cracking, on the other hand, usually occurs only with cold-formed brass.
Tips & Tricks
Pay attention to the possibility of contact corrosion and keep copper and brass as far away as possible from other metals and alloys.
FAQ - 💬
❓ What causes brass to corrode?
👉 Generally, brass corrodes when the zinc, copper and tin components of brass alloy are exposed to water. This is a danger for brass pipes, exterior window casings and the hardware on boats. Corrosion in brass is easily identifiable by reddish or pink splotches on the surface of the object.
❓ Does brass corrode easily?
👉 Copper, brass, and bronze do not rust for the same reason as aluminum. All three have a negligible amount of iron in them. Therefore no iron oxide, or rust, can form.
❓ What is corrosion of brass called?
👉 When brass corrodes, it can undergo dezincification, a process in which zinc is lost and copper is left behind. Mild dezincification may simply cause a cosmetic change, namely, the colour of the surface turning from yellow to pink, but severe dezincification can lead to the weakening of brass and even its perforation.
❓ How do you treat brass corrosion?
👉 Combine the juice of half a lemon with a teaspoon of baking soda and stir until it becomes a paste. Apply the paste with a soft cloth. If the tarnish is heavy, let the piece sit with the paste on it for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry.
❓ Does brass corrode with water?
👉 Overall, brass loses its zinc component relatively quickly when submerged in water, causing the metal to weaken and putting its structural integrity at risk.
❓ Does brass corrode in hard water?
👉 Brass faucets do not easily crack or disintegrate. It's one of the most corrosion-resistant materials out there. This is particularly important if you have hard water, which corrodes a faucet even more quickly than other materials.
❓ Does brass corrode with salt?
👉 You may think that well-known corrosion-resistant metals like copper, bronze, and brass might pull it off but the truth is they, too, will corrode when dipped in salt solution.
❓ What happens when brass gets wet?
👉 Overall, brass loses its zinc component relatively quickly when submerged in water, causing the metal to weaken and putting its structural integrity at risk. Outside of situations where it's submerged in water, brass is a great metal for outdoor applications due to its amazing endurance.
❓ Does salt corrode brass?
👉 Similar to rust, tarnish is a feature that is both loved and hated by brass lovers. Salt, in particular, tarnishes brass quickly and must be kept away from brass intended to be kept shiny. Chemicals in rainwater, tap water and air, as well as those found on our fingers and in food, are also corrosive.
❓ Can corroded brass be restored?
👉 Mix ½ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of white vinegar to create a paste (you can also add 2 tbsp of table salt if your piece is badly tarnished). The paste will fizz for a few seconds. Once the paste has stopped fizzing, rub on to your brass hardware in circular motions with a toothbrush.
❓ How do I remove green corrosion from brass?
👉 Use a salt-and-vinegar mixture with one cup of white vinegar and one tablespoon salt. The mixture will create a paste that you can rub on your brass to remove the green coloring. After the green oxidation has been completely removed, you can rub a little olive oil on your brass to make it shine like new.