A cast silicon bronze (UNS C86700) impeller that had been severely corroded was submitted for failure analysis. The failed part was used to pump potable water, but service life and chlorine content of the water were unknown. The impeller displayed a Cu-rich red phase on its surfaces and showed a pattern very similar to dezincification. Further investigation to determine the cause of damage using light microscopy and SEM-EDS techniques revealed that the microstructure consisted of multiple phases and that a Si-rich phase was being preferentially attacked, leading to increased porosity. After a thorough examination, it was concluded that the part had failed due to dealloying via desiliconification.

A brackish water pump impeller was replaced after four years of service, while its predecessor lasted over 40 years. The subsequent failure investigation determined that the nickel-aluminum bronze impeller was not properly heat treated, which made the impeller susceptible to aluminum dealloying. The dealloying corrosion was exacerbated by erosion because the pump was slightly oversized. The investigation recommended better heat treating procedures and closer evaluation to ensure that new pumps are properly sized.

A brass elbow that formed one termination of a steam heating coil failed adjacent to the brazed connection after ten years of service. Chemical analysis showed that the elbow was made from a 60-40 CuZn brass containing 3% lead and 1% tin, a typical alloy used for the manufacture of components by the hot stamping process. Microscopic examination indicated failure from dezincification. The fact that the screwed end was not affected indicated that the trouble was not caused by the condensate, which flowed through the elbow, but originated from the water heated in the vessel. The helical mode of the cracking was probably due to the torsional stresses which would be imposed on the elbow by thermally induced movements of the coil in service.

After about 17 years in service, copper alloy C27000 (yellow brass, 65% Cu) innercooler tubes in an air compressor began leaking cooling water, causing failure and requiring replacement. The tubes were 19 mm in diam and had a wall thickness of 1.3 mm (0.050 in.). The cooling water that flowed through the tubes was generally sanitary (chlorinated) well water; however, treated recirculating water was sometimes used. Analysis (visual inspection, 9x and 75x unetched micrographs, and spectrochemical analysis) showed a thick uniform layer of porous, brittle copper on the inner surface of the tube, extending to a depth of about 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) into the metal, plug-type dezincification extending somewhat deeper into the metal. This supported the conclusion that failure of the tubes was the result of the use of an uninhibited brass that has a high zinc content and therefore is readily susceptible to dezincification. Recommendations included replacing the material with copper alloy C68700 (arsenical aluminum brass), which contains 0.02 to 0.06% As and is highly resistant to dezincification. Copper alloy C44300 (inhibited admiralty metal) could be an alternative selection for this application; however, this alloy is not as resistant to impingement attack as copper alloy C68700.

Argonne National Laboratory has conducted analyses of failed components from nuclear power-generating stations since 1974. The considerations involved in working with and analyzing radioactive components are reviewed here, and the decontamination of these components is discussed. Analyses of four failed components from nuclear plants are then described to illustrate the kinds of failures seen in service. The failures discussed are (1) intergranular stress-corrosion cracking of core spray injection piping in a boiling water reactor, (2) failure of canopy seal welds in adapter tube assemblies in the control rod drive head of a pressurized water reactor, (3) thermal fatigue of a recirculation pump shaft in a boiling water reactor, and (4) failure of pump seal wear rings by nickel leaching in a boiling water reactor.

After 14 months of service, cracks were discovered in castings and bolts used to fasten together braces, posts, and other structural members of a cooling tower, where they were subjected to externally applied stresses. The castings were made of copper alloys C86200 and C86300 (manganese bronze). The bolts and nuts were made of copper alloy C46400 (naval brass, uninhibited). The water that was circulated through the tower had high concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and chloramines. Analysis (visual inspection, bend tests, fractographs, 50x unetched micrographs, 100x micrographs etched with H4OH, and 500x micrographs) supported the conclusions that the castings and bolts failed by SCC caused by the combined effects of dezincification damage and applied stresses. Recommendations included replacing the castings with copper alloy C87200 (cast silicon bronze) castings. Replacement bolts and nuts should be made from copper alloy C65100 or C65500 (wrought silicon bronze).

Some of the admiralty brass tubes were failing in a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cooled air by passing river water through the inside of the tubes. The wall thickness of all tubes ranged between 1.19 to 1.27 mm (0.047 to 0.050 in.). General intergranular corrosion occurred at the inside surfaces of the tubes. Transgranular stress-corrosion cracking, probably the result of sulphates under basic conditions, and dezincification occurred also as the result of galvanic corrosion under the deposits in the tubes. Recommendations were to use a closed-loop water system to eliminate sulphates, ammonia, etc., and to run trials on one unit with tubes of other alloys such as 80-20 Cu-Ni or 70-30 Cu-Ni to evaluate their performance prior to any large scale retubing operations.

Dezincification is a particular form of corrosive attack which may occur in a variety of environments and to which some brasses are susceptible. It is favored by waters having a high oxygen, carbon dioxide, or chloride content, and is accelerated by elevated temperatures and low water velocities. In the present study, steam turbine condenser tubes had to be renewed after 25 years of service. The tubes were nominally of 70:30 brass. The appearance of a typically corroded one showed uniform dezincification attack on the bore, extending from one-half to two-thirds through the tube wall thickness.

A 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) diam tube was removed from a potable water supply due to leaks. The tube wall thickness was 0.711 mm (0.028 in.) with a thin layer of chromium plate on the OD surface. The tube had been in service for approximately 33 years. Investigation (visual inspection, EDS deposit analysis, metallurgical examination, and unetched magnified images) supported the conclusion that failure occurred due to porous material typical of plug-type dezincification initiating from the inside surface. Where the dezincification had progressed through the tube wall, the chromium plate had exfoliated from the base material and cracked. Recommendations included replacing the piping with a more corrosion-resistant material such as red brass (UNS C23000), inhibited Admiralty brass (UNS C44300), or arsenical aluminum brass (UNS C68700).

After six years of service, three water shut-off valves on a copper water line in a residential building were found to be inoperative. Macroscopic examination of the valves after disassembly revealed that all three failed at the key that holds the spindle in the gate. In addition, the color near the key changed from yellow to red-brown. The gate was made from leaded red brass (85-5-5-5) while the spindle was made from silicon brass. It was concluded that the valves failed by dezincification resulting from bimetallic galvanic corrosion. It is common in the valve industry to use components made of different alloys in the same valve, but this is not the best approach for all applications.

A section of cast iron water main pipe contained a hole approximately 6.4 x 3.8 cm (2.5 x 1.5 in.). The pipe was laid in clay type soil. Examination revealed severe pitting around the hole and at the opposite side of the outside diam. A macroscopic examination of a pipe section at the hole area showed that the porosity extended a considerable distance into the pipe wall. Metallographic examination revealed a graphite structure distribution expected in centrifugally cast iron with a hypoeutectic carbon equivalent. Chemical analyses of a nonporous sample had a composition typical of cast iron pipe. Chemical analyses of the porous region had a substantial increase in carbon, silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur. The porous appearance and the composition of the soft porous residue confirmed graphitic corrosion. The selective leaching of iron leaves a residue rich in carbon, silicon, and phosphorus. The high sulfur content is attributed to ferrous sulfide from a sulfate reducing bacteria frequently associated with clay soils. Reinforced coal tar protective coating was recommended.

A 25.4 cm (10 in.) diam gray cast iron water main pipe was buried in the soil beneath a concrete slab. The installation was believed to have been completed in the early 20th century. A leak from the pipe resulted in flooding of a warehouse. Once removed, the pipe revealed through-wall perforations and cracking along its axis. The perforations and the crack were at the 6 o'clock position. Investigation (visual inspection, radiography, unetched macrographs, and tensile testing) supported the conclusion that the failure occurred as result of years of exposure to ground water in the soil resulting in graphitic corrosion. Soils containing sulfates are particularly aggressive. Recommendations included pipe replacement. The wall thickness had been sufficiently reduced that the pipe could no longer support the required load. Water mains are designed for more than 100 years life. Ductile iron or coated and lined steel pipe, generally not susceptible to graphitic corrosion, were suggested as suitable replacement materials, and cathodic protection was also considered as a possibility.

Persistent leakage was experienced from copper tube heaters which formed part of dairy equipment. Metallurgical examination of the brazed joints showed them to have suffered a preferential corrosion attack. This resulted in the phosphide phase of the brazing alloy being corroded away, leaving a weak, porous residual structure. The brazing alloy was of type CP 1 as covered by BS 1845. Header and tube materials were basically copper-nickel alloys for which the use of a phosphorus bearing brazing alloy is not recommended owing to the possibility of forming the brittle intermetallic compound, nickel phosphide. The use of a brazing alloy containing phosphorus was unsuitable on two counts and a quaternary alloy containing silver, copper, cadmium and zinc, such as those in group AG1 or AG2 of BS 1845 would be more suitable. However, because corrosive problems experienced in these units indicated severe service conditions, a proprietary alloy similar to AG1, but containing 3% nickel, was recommended.

Over a period of about one year, three RA 330 alloy salt pots from a single heat-treating plant were submitted to failure analysis. All of the pots, which had 9.5 mm thick walls, were used primarily to contain neutral salts at temperatures from about 815 to 900 deg C (1500 to 1650 deg F). However, some cyaniding was also performed in these pots, which, when not in use, were idled at 760 deg C (1400 deg F). It was reported that sludge was removed from the bottom of the pots once a day. Normal pot life varied from about 6 to 20 months. The pots were removed from the furnace, visually inspected, and rotated 120 deg every three weeks to ensure that no single location was overheated for a prolonged period of time. Analysis (visual inspection, chemical analysis, metallographic examination, and x-ray analysis, 60x micrograph etched with 10% oxalic acid) supported the conclusion that the cause of failure of each of the three salt pots was severe intergranular corrosion accompanied by substantial chromium depletion. No recommendations were made.

Deterioration of the vanes and a wearing away of the area surrounding the mainshaft-bearing housing of the pump bowl for a submersible water pump used in a well field were noticed during a maintenance inspection. The bowl was sand cast from gray iron and had been in service approximately 45 months. Visual examination of the vanes and the area surrounding the mainshaft-bearing housing revealed a dark corrosion product that was soft, porous, and of low mechanical strength. There were areas with severe erosion. Macrographs of sections through the pump shell and a vane showed darker areas representing graphitic residue and corrosion products that were not removed by erosion. Exposure of the pump bowl to the well water resulted in graphitic corrosion, which generated a soft, porous graphitic residue impregnated with insoluble corrosion products. Failure of the pump bowl resulted from the continuous erosion of the residue by action of the water within the pump.

A welded joint between lengths of 4 in. OD x 13 SWG copper pipe which formed part of a cold-water main failed by cracking over one-third of the circumference. Microscopic examination of the filler metal showed that it had a structure corresponding to a brass of the 60:40 type commonly used for bronze welding. Failure resulted from dezincification of the joint material from the internal side of the tube. Also, a selective attack on the beta phase had occurred. It was evident that the loss in mechanical strength arising from the corrosion had resulted in the development of cracking in service. The filler metal used was not resistant to the conditions to which it was exposed. Copper welding rods as per BS 1077 or a Cu-Ag-P brazing alloy as recommended in BS 699, would have been preferable.

After operating for six months, a pump impeller (of nickel-containing cast iron) showed considerable corrosion. Cross sections showed substantial penetration of the wall thickness without loss of material. The observed supercooled structure implied low strength but would not affect corrosion resistance. Etching of the core structure showed a selective form of cast iron corrosion (spongiosis or graphitic corrosion) which lowered the strength of the cast iron enough that a knife could scrape off a black powder (10.85% C, 1.8% S, 1.45% P). Analysis showed that some of the “sulfate” found in the scrubbing water was actually sulfide (including hydrogen sulfide) and was the main cause of corrosion.

The steam tug Hercules was an ocean-going and bay tug for 55 years before being retired. It is now being restored by the National Park Service. A broken steam valve was obtained for microstructural examination. The body was gray cast iron, and the stem and seat were brass. The examination centered on corrosion of the brass components. The seat and shaft were alpha brass, with a hardness of 64 and 79 DPH, respectively. A nut held the shaft onto the seat, and was alpha-beta brass with a hardness of 197 DPH. Welded on the end of the shaft was a ring of hard (DPH 294) alpha-beta brass, which seated against the nut. The brass seat and stem show little corrosion. However, the alpha-beta brass nut and welded tip showed extensive dezincification. This process of removal of Zn and the retention of Cu began in the high Zn beta phase, but eventually both phases were attacked. The depth of penetration was consistent with dezincification rates reported in the literature for such brasses in salt water if the valve had been in service about 55 years.

This article addresses the forms of corrosion that contribute directly to the failure of metal parts or that render them susceptible to failure by some other mechanism. It describes the mechanisms of corrosive attack for specific forms of corrosion such as galvanic corrosion, uniform corrosion, pitting and crevice corrosion, intergranular corrosion, and velocity-affected corrosion. The article contains a table that lists combinations of alloys and environments subjected to selective leaching and the elements removed by leaching.

Two new chrome-plated CDA 377 brass valves intended for inert gas service failed on initial installation. After a pickling operation to clean the metal, the outer surfaces of the valves had been flashed with copper and then plated with nickel and chromium for aesthetic purposes. One of the valves failed by dezincification. The porous copper matrix could not sustain the clamping loads imposed by tightening the pressure relief fitting. The second valve failed by shear overload of the pressure relief fitting. Overload was facilitated by a reduction of cross-sectional area caused by intergranular attack and slight dezincification of the inner bore surface of the fitting. Dezincification and intergranular attack were attributed to excessive exposure to nonoxidizing acids in the pickling bath.