The Dezincification of Alpha Brass with Special Reference to Arsenic

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Abstract
Corrosion cell experiments conducted with two alpha brasses: (a) 70 per cent Cu, 30 per cent Zn, with less than 0.005 per cent As ; and (b) 70 per cent Cu, 30 per cent Zn, and 0.02 per cent As, showed that arsenical brass was superior only in differential aeration cells. The experiments suggest that the first stage of the corrosion of non‐ arsenical brass in salt solution consists of a few zinc‐rich points undergoing selective corrosion, leaving residual copper spots behind, which at a later stage act as cathodes for the deposition of copper ions, the main mass of copper being re‐deposited. It was shown that arsenic, while undoubtedly having some effect at the cathode, acts chiefly as an anodic inhibitor. Arsenic forms a film, which presumably acts as a barrier, preventing susceptible points from undergoing selective corrosion, the main mass of metal undergoing general corrosion.

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