Analysis of dezincification in brass plumbing valves

Yellow brass plumbing fittings with elevated zinc levels are susceptible to corrosion by a dezincification mechanism which can be pronounced in certain water chemistries. We investigated dezincification of brass valves in a town in MA which historically has water known to be corrosive to plumbing systems. We analyzed a total of 20 valves and observed that certain valves were corroding at a faster rate, occasionally failing within a year of installation. This talk will relate the chemistry of the different valves to the water chemistry and discuss why corrosion is ocuring so rapidly.