The effect of alloying elements on the corrosion resistance of brass

Abstract

A systematic study has been performed on the effect of alloying elements arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and phosphorus (P) on the dezincification resistance of α-phase in brass. The result showed that P formed particles with Al and Fe already at relatively high temperatures, leaving no P in solid solution and thus no protection against dezincification. Arsenic only formed particles at lower temperatures and offers a satisfactory protecting. However, with increasing As levels grain boundary attack was observed. Samples alloyed with Sb show a satisfactory resistance to dezincification and no grain boundary attack. Finally, a combination of As and Sb at low alloying levels provided an excellent dezincification resistance for brass containing typical impurity levels.

This paper is part of a Themed Issue on Brass Alloys.

Keywords

Brass Dezincification Microstructure Heat-treatment Alloying element

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