Dezincification
Water Treatment for Closed Heating and Cooling Systems (BG 50/2021), second edition, by Dr Pamela Simpson, published by BSRIA in 2021, defines dezincification as: ‘Corrosion of brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) where the zinc is preferentially removed to leave a weak porous matrix of copper.’
The Illustrated Guide to Hot and Cold Water Services (BG 33/2014), written by Reginald Brown and published by BSRIA in 2014, in suggests that dezincification of brass occurs when: ‘…zinc is selectively leached from a brass component leaving behind a porous mass of copper. This is much weaker than the original brass and can result in mechanical failure of stressed components. The problem is more likely in potable water systems than heating or chilled water as it requires a high oxygen concentration.’
--BSRIA
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