Abstract
Copper tubes suffer from severe localized attack during storage after rinse and de-greasing process in organochlorine solvents. This type of corrosion is triggered by condensed organic acid vapor, e.g. acetic and formic acids that are decomposition products of the solvents used for rinsing and de-greasing of copper tubes. Because of morphological features of tunneling and branching of pits, it is often referred to “ant-nest” corrosion. Laboratory simulation has been carried out for the decomposition of solvents and condensation of acids. The so-called ant-nest corrosion has been reproduced in copper tube samples exposed to wet atmosphere containing formic and/or acetic acid vapor. A mechanism is proposed for the generation of this type of corrosion.
