Corrosion Science and Technology

The Corrosion Science Society of Korea (한국부식방식학회)
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Investigation on Causes of Pitting Corrosion in Sprinkler Copper Tubes

스프링클러 동배관의 공식부식 발생원인

  • Lee, Jae-Bong (School of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kookmin University) ;
  • Jung, Hoseok (School of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kookmin University)
  • 이재봉 (국민대학교 공과대학 신소재 공학부) ;
  • 정호석 (국민대학교 공과대학 신소재 공학부)
  • Received : 2014.02.17
  • Accepted : 2014.02.24
  • Published : 2014.02.28
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Abstract

Copper metal is widely used in tubes installed in sprinkler water services because of its excellent corrosion resistance. Copper corrosion is considered to be insignificant in water system and the incident of copper pipeline failure is relatively low. However, pitting corrosion is a major problem with all copper tubes. In this study, leaked sprinkler copper tubes were collected from three different locations and examined on the causes of pitting corrosion of copper tubes in sprinkler water plumbing systems. Electrochemical tests such as potentiodynamic polarization, as well as surface and chemical analyses were performed. Results show that pitting corrosion of copper tubes were found as Type I pitting that the carbon film formed on the copper tubes have a harmful effects, causing the pinhole failure in the pipe and resulting in leakage of water. The contermeasures on Type I pitting corrosion of copper tubes were proposed.

Keywords

References

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