The pitting corrosion of copper

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of the American Water Works Association; (United States)

OSTI ID:7029181

Edwards, M ^[1]; Ferguson, J F ^[2]; Reiber, S H ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
2. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
3. HDR Engineering, Bellevue, WA (United States)

Some current theories of copper pitting are contradicted by practical experience. Although it has been theorized that chloride initiates copper pitting attack, simple experiments show that the presence of chloride ion actually tends to decrease the likelihood that pitting will occur. In contrast, sulfate plays no role in pitting theory, yet sulfate has consistently demonstrated a propensity to initiate and propagate copper pitting. New theories are required to reconcile pitting theory and practical observation in order to allow the rational mitigation of copper pitting problems. In addition, the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) in water supplies prevents or inhibits certain copper corrosion problems. As a result, recent efforts to remove NOM as a means of controlling disinfection by-products may lead to increased copper corrosion problems.

• OSTI ID: 7029181
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Water Works Association; (United States), Vol. 86:7; ISSN 0003-150X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER
CORROSION PROTECTION
PITTING CORROSION
ORGANIC MATTER
CORROSION RESISTANCE
SULFATES
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
ELEMENTS
MATTER
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
360105* - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion