Dezincification test on copper alloys

Dezincification is a form of dealloying where zinc from brass alloy gradually dissolves out. Copper alloys that contain less than 15% zinc and alpha brasses inhibited by arsenic or antimony are resistant to dezincification, when in service in water or soil environments.

An accelerated test method is given in AS 2345 for the assessment of the susceptibility of brasses, and other copper alloys containing zinc, to dezincification. It enables the measurement of depth but does not give information on the mode of dezincification.