MECHANICALLY ASSISTED DEZINCIFICATION AND STRESS CORROSION CRACKING OF 60/40 BRASS.

Abstract

Dezincification studies and slow strain rate tensile testing of annealed and cold rolled 60/40 brass were carried out in 10 N NH//4 OH. Applied elastic stresses increase dezincification from the brass, and pre-exposure to elastic stresses causes greater susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking. Plastic deformation by cold rolling increases the corrosion of the brass at low percentage reductions but the effect is reversed at higher reductions. A similar trend was found in the loss in ductility of the brass during slow strain rate tensile testing. Fracture occurs by a predominantly ductile mode.