Corrosion Resistance of Copper and Copper Alloys

Reprinted with permission by the Copper Development Association

An R indicates that the material is resistant to the named chemical up to the temperature shown, subject to limitations indicated by the footnotes.

An X indicates that the material is NOT RECOMMENDED.

  Aluminium Bronze Brass (a) Copper Copper-Nickel 90/10 alloys (b) Gunmetal and Bronze (c)
Temperature, Celcius 20° 60° 100° 20° 60° 100° 20° 60° 100° 20° 60° 100° 20° 60° 100°
Acetaldehyde R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Acetic acid (10%) R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Acetic acid (glac./anh.) R R R X X X R R R R R X R R R
Acetic anhydride R R R X X X R R R R R R R R X
Aceto-acetic ester R R R R (82) X X R R R R R R R R R
Acetone R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Other ketones R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Acetonitrile R (36) X X X X X R (36) X X R (36) X X R (36) X X
Acetylene X X X R R R (82) X X X X X X X X X
Acetyl salicylic acid R R R No data No data No data R (36) X X R R R R R R
Acid fumes R (2) R (2) R (2) X X X R (2) R (2) R (2) R (2) R (2) R (2) X X X
Alcohols (mostly fatty) R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Aliphatic esters R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Alkyl chlorides No data No data No data X X X R R R R R R R R R
Alum R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Aluminium chloride R (20) R (20) X X X X R R R R R X R R R
Aluminium sulphate R R R R (119) R (119) X R (119) R (20, 119) R (20, 119) R R R R (119) R (119) R (119)
Ammonia, anhydrous R R R X X X R R R (83) R R R R R R
Ammonia, aqueous X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Ammonium chloride X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Amyl acetate R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Aniline X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Antimony trichloride No data No data No data X X X No data No data No data No data No data No data R X X
Aqua regia X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Aromatic solvents R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Ascorbic acid X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Beer R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Benzaldehyde R R R No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R
Benzene, pure R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Benzoic acid R R R R R R X X X R R R X X X
Benzoyl peroxide No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data
Boric acid R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Brines, saturated R R R X X X R R R (20) R R R R R X
Bromide (K) solution R R R X X X R R X R R R R R X
Bromine R (20) X X X X X X X X R (11) R (11) R (11) X X X
Bromine liquid, tech. R X X R X X R X X R X X R X X
Bromine water, sat.aq. R X X R X X X X X X X X X X X
Butyl acetate R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Calcium chloride R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Carbon disulphide R X X R R R R R R R R X R R R
Carbonic acid R R R X X X X X X R R R X X X
Carbon tetrachloride R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Caustic soda & potash R X X X X X R R R R R X R R R
Cellulose paint R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Chlorates of Na, K, Ba R R R X X X R R R R R X R R R
Chlorine, dry R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Chlorine, wet X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Chlorides of Na, K, Mg R R R X X X R R R (20) R R R R R R
Chloroacetic acids No data No data No data X X X No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data
Chlorobenzene R R R No data No data No data No data No data No data R R R R R R
Chloroform R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Chlorosulphonic acid R (20) R (20) R (20) No data No data No data X X X R R R X X X
Chromic acid (80%) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Citric acid R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Copper salts (most) R R R X X X X X X R X X R R R
Cresylic acids (50%) R R R X X X R R R R R X R R R
Cyclohexane R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Detergents, synthetic No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R R R R
Emulsifiers (all conc.) R R R No data No data No data R R R R R R No data No data No data
Esters R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Ether R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Fatty acids (>C6) R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Ferric chloride X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Ferrous sulphate R (20) R (20) R (20) X X X X X X R X X X X X
Fluorinated refrigerants R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Fluorine, dry R R R (11) X X X R R R R R R R R R
Fluorine, wet X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Fluorosilic acid X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Formaldehyde (40%) R R R R X X R R R R R R R R R
Formic acid R R R No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R
Fruit juices R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Gelatine R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Glycerine R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Glycols R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Glycol, ethylene R X X R X X R R R R (175) R (175) R (175) R R R
Glycollic acid R (36) X X R (36) X X R (36) X X R (36) X X R (36) X X
Hexamethylene diamine X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hexamine X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrazine X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrobromic acid (50%) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrochloric acid (10%) R X X X X X X X X R X X X X X
Hydrochloric acid (conc.) R (62) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrocyanic acid R (20) R (20) R (20) X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrofluoric acid (40%) R (62) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrofluoric acid (75%) R (62) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrogen peroxide (30%) X X X X X X X X X R X X X X X
Hydrogen peroxide (30-90%) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hydrogen sulphide R (11) R R R (11) R R R (11) R R R (11) R (11) R (11) R (11) R R
Hypochlorites R X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hypochlorite (Na 12-14%) R R R R R R R R R X X X X X X
Iso-butyl acetate R R X X X X R R X R R R R R R
Lactic acid (90%) No data No data No data X X X X X X R R X R (4) R (4) X
Lead acetate X X X X X X X X X R R X X X X
Lead perchlorate R R R R R R R R R X X X X X X
Lime (CaO) No data No data No data No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R
Maleic acid R X X R X X R (60) R (60) X R R X No data No data No data
Manganate, pot (K) R R R X X X X X X X X X R (60) R (60) X
Meat juices X X X X X X X X X No data No data No data X X X
Mercuric chloride X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Mercury R R R R R R R R R X X X X X X
Methanol R R R R (82) R (82) R (82) R R R R R R R R R
Methylene chloride R R X X X X X X X R R R R R R
Milk & milk products R R R X X X R R R R R   R R R
Moist air R (30) R (30) R (30) R (30) R X R (30) R R R R R R R R
Molasses X X X X X X X X X R R R R (30) R R
Monoethanolamine R R R R R R R R R X X X X X X
Naphtha No data No data No data No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R
Naphthalene No data No data No data X X X X X X R R R No data No data No data
Nickel salts R (73) R (73) R (73) X X X X X X R R R R R R
Nitrates of Na, K, NH3 X X X X X X X X X R (73) R (73) X X X X
Nitric acid (<25%) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Nitric acid (50%) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Nitric acid (90%) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Nitric acid, fuming R R R R R R R R R X X X X X X
Nitrite (Na) R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Nitrobenzine R X X R X X R X X R R R R R R
Oil, diesel R R R R R R R R R R X X R X X
Oils, essential R R X R R X R R X R R R R R R
Oils, lube + aromatic ads. R R R R R R R R R R R X R R X
Oils, mineral R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Oils, vegetable & animal R R R No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R
Oxalic acid No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data R R R R R R
Ozone R R R R R R R R R No data No data No data No data No data No data
Paraffin wax X X X No data No data No data X X X R R R R R R
Perchloric acid R R R R R R R R R X X X X X X
Petroleum spirits R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Phenol R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Phosphoric acid (20%) R R R X X X X X X R R X X X X
Phosphoric acid (50%) R R R X X X X X X R R X X X X
Phosphoric acid (95%) R (11) R (11) R (11) X X X X X X R X X X X X
Phosphorus chlorides No data No data No data X X X X X X R X X X X X
Phosphorous pentoxide R R R No data No data No data R R R No data No data No data X X X
Phthalic acid X X X X X X X X X R R R R R R
Picric acid No data No data No data X X X X X X R R R R R R
Pyridine No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data X X X
Salicyl aldehyde R R R R (62) R R R R R No data No data No data No data No data No data
Sea water R R R No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R
Silicic acid R R R R R R R R R X X X No data No data No data
Silicone fluids X X X X X X X X X R R R R R R
Silver nitrate R R R (4) R R R R R R X X X X X X
Sodium carbonate X X X X X X X X X R R R R R R
Sodium peroxide R R R R R R R R R R X X X X X
Sodium silicate X X X X X X X X X R R R R R R
Sodium sulphide R (11) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Stannic chloride R R X No data No data No data R R R X X X X X X
Starch R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Sugar soln, syrups, jams No data No data No data X X X X X X R R R R R R
Sulphamic acid R R R R R R R R R No data No data No data X X X
Sulphates (Na, K, Mg, Ca) R R R X X X R R R R R R R R R
Suphites No data No data No data No data No data No data X X X R R R R R R
Sulphonic acids X X X X X X X X X No data No data No data No data No data No data
Sulphur R R R R R R R R R X X X X X X
Sulphur dioxide, dry R R R X X X X X X R R X R R R
Sulphur dioxide, wet R R R X X X R (20) R (20) X X X X X X X
Sulphur dioxide, (96%) R (11)b R R R (11) R R R (11) R R R R (20) X R (20) R (20) R (20)
Sulphur trioxide R R R X X X R R R R (11) R X R (11) R R
Sulphuric acid (<50%) R R (62) X X X X X X X R X X X X X
Sulphuric acid (70%) R (62) X X X X X X X X R X X X X X
Sulphuric acid (95%) X X X X X X X X X R X X X X X
Sulphuric acid, fuming X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Sulphur chlorides R R R No data No data No data R R R X X X X X X
Tallow R R R R R R R R R R R R No data No data No data
Tannic acid (10%) R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Tartaric acid R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Trichlorethylene R R X R R X R R X R R R R R R
Urea (30%) R R R X X X X X X R R X R R No data
Vinegar R (53) R X X X X R (53) R X R R R X X X
Water, distilled RR R R R R R R R R R R R R (53) R R
Water, soft R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Water, hard R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Wetting agents (to 5%) No data No data No data No data No data No data R R R R R R R R R
Yeast R R R X X X X X X No data No data No data R R R
Zinc chloride X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X



Footnotes:

(a) Brass: Some type of brass have less corrosion resistance than is shown on the chart, others have more, e.g. Aluminium brass.
(b) Copper-nickel alloys: Based on behaviour of Cu/Ni 90/10; 70/30 may be generally more resistant.
(c) Gunmetal: The data refer only to high tin gunmetals.
(2) Depending on the acid.
(4) Fair resistance.
(11) Anhydrous
(20) Not aerated solutions
(30) Depending on composition
(36) Over 85%.
(53) In absence of dissolved O2 and CO2
(60) May discolour liquid/ product
(62) Depending on type.
(73) Not ammonium.
(82) Provided more than 70% copper.
(83) Water less than 150ppm.
(119) Pure solution.
(175) With stabiliser

 

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