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NON-UNIFORM COPPER CORROSION: RESEARCH UPDATE
Citation:
Lytle*, D A. AND J. Payne. NON-UNIFORM COPPER CORROSION: RESEARCH UPDATE. Presented at AWWA Research Foundation Project Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, August 25, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Pinhole leaks due to copper pitting corrosion are a major cause of home plumbing failure. This study documents cases of copper pitting corrosion found in homes supplied by Butler County Environmental Services in Ohio. SEM. XRD, and optical microscopy were used to document pit structure and composition. Pits examined in this study were covered by a corrosion cap consisting of brochanite, ponsjakite, and traces of corrundum. Beneath the cap is a permeable membrane of cuprite (Lucey, 1967) and other minerals. Removing this membrane reveals a corrosion pit loosely packed with cuprite crystals. This presentation includes SEM micrographs and optical pictures closely documenting each layer of copper pitting corrosion and is an update on the status of the research program.