The long-term corrosion testing for the copper tubing was conducted by using the water loops simulating the conditions of the hot-water supply system in buildings. The electrode potential of the inside of the copper tube was measured against the saturated calomel electrode holding at room temperature.
In the hot-water (60°C) containing residual chlorine of 3mg/
l, the potential of the copper tube exceeded the critical value for pitting (+150mV vs. SCE), after the certain induction period. The pit morphology obtained in the experiment was essentially the same as the type 2 pitting which has occurred in the actual service piping of buildings in Japan. The dosage of a small amount of Phytic acid into water suppressed the potential increase of the copper tube, even under the presence of residual chlorine, and pitting did not occur. The inner surface of the copper tube was uniformly covered with the greenish-blue precipitates consisting of copper and phytic salt. Whenever pitting occurred on the copper tube, the mounds of basic copper sulfate were formed above the pits. The unattacked area of the copper tube was covered with a mixture of copper oxide and copper orthosilicate. On the other hand, the addition of phytic acid in water prevented the formation of these compounds, and only cuprous oxide and the amorphous deposits were formed.
The maximum pit depth of the copper tube in the corrosion accelerating condition was estimated by the application of the extreme value statistical analysis. The growth of pit depth and the inhibitive effect due to phytic acid was clearly shown by the Gumbel distribution analysis.
View full abstract