EFFECT OF SILICON ADDITION ON DEZINCIFICATION OF L72 BRASS IN CHLORIDE MEDIA

  • Minh Tien Ngo Institute of Materials, Biology and Environment, Academy of Military Science and Technology
  • Xuan Thinh Phung Institute of Materials, Biology and Environment, Academy of Military Science and Technology
  • Thi Phuong Nguyen Institute of Materials, Biology and Environment, Academy of Military Science and Technology
Keywords: Brass alloy, silicon-alloyed brass, dezincification, corrosion resistance

Abstract

Brass alloys (Cu-Zn) are susceptible to dezincification, especially in chloride-rich environments. This study investigates the effect of adding 0.5% silicon to L72 brass on its corrosion behavior and resistance to localized corrosion induced by microcracks. Samples with and without silicon were immersed in a 3.5% NaCl solution and analyzed using electrochemical testing, EDX techniques, and dezincification coefficient (z) measurements. The results show that silicon addition improves corrosion resistance by increasing the corrosion potential, reducing current density, and minimizing zinc loss. OM and EDX analyses confirmed that the silicon-containing alloy exhibited a smoother surface and higher copper content. However, microstructural observations revealed that silicon can alter grain boundaries and promote microcrack formation, which may initiate localized corrosion. These findings suggest that while silicon enhances overall dezincification resistance, it may also introduce structural vulnerabilities, highlighting the need to optimize silicon-alloyed brass compositions to improve corrosion resistance while minimizing microcrack-induced degradation in aggressive environments.

điểm /   đánh giá
Published
2025-11-05
Issue
Vol. 3 No. 02 (2025)
Section
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH