American Water Works Association

SOME EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF EXTERNAL CORROSION OF COPPER AND BRASS SERVICE

PIPE
Author(s): K. H. Logan and S. P. Ewing
Source: Journal (American Water Works Association), Vol. 20, No. 3 (SEPTEMBER, 1928), pp. 390-
403
Published by: American Water Works Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41227924
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SOME EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF EXTERNAL CORRO-
SION OF COPPER AND BRASS SERVICE PIPE1
By K. H. Logan2and S. P. Ewing3
In recentyearsconsiderable has beenmanifested
interest intheuse
ofcopperandbrasspipeforwaterservices.It is hopedbysomethat
thesematerialswillresistthe actionof the waterwhichtheymust
carryand of the soilsto whichtheymaybe exposed. To assistin
answering someof the questionswhichit receivedregarding these
materials,the Bureauof Standardsincludedin itssoil-corrosion in-
vestigationsamplesofa number ofcopper-zincalloycastingsranging
from96 to-approximately 75 per centcopper. Somespecimensof
eachalloywereattachedto lead pipetosimulatethecondition when
ina leadwaterservice. Othersweresimilarly
a brasscockis inserted
connected to galvanizedironpipe,whilea thirdgroupwas connected
to brasspipe containing approximately40 percentzinc. Figure1
showstheinitialappearanceof thespecimens.In all of thesecom-
binations,therefore,therewas introduced the galvaniceffectofthe
contactbetweentwo dissimilarmetals. This effect wouldbe ex-
pectedto protectthebrasscastingsand was theleastin thecase of
thoseattachedto thebrasspipe.
In 1926afterthespecimens had beenburiedin 47 soilsforabout
twoyears,one-fourth ofthemwas removedand theamoiintof cor-
rosiondetermined.The resultsofthisexamination are discussedin
somedetailinTechnologic PaperNo. 368. As a generalsummary of
theresults,itmaybe saidthatthecorrosion lossesofthesespecimens
weretoo smalland too variableto enableus to drawconclusions as
to therelativemeritsof thecast alloys. In mostsoilstheaverage
lossperunitarea ofthecast brassspecimens was roughly a thirdof
thelossesofthebrassnipplesto whichtheywereattached. It is not
1PublicationapprovedbytheDirectoroftheBureauofStandards, U. S.
DepartmentofCommerce.Presented beforetheSan FranciscoConvention,
June12,1928.
2ElectricalEngineer,
Bureauof Standards,U. S. Departmentof Com-
merce,Washington,D. C.
3Assistant ofCommerce,
U. S. Department
BureauofStandards,
Physicist,
Washington,D. C.
390

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 EXTERNAL CORROSION OF SERVICE PIPE 391

possibletostatepositively whether thisdifference

wasduetogalvanic
actionprotecting thespecimens ofhighercoppercontentat theex-
penseoftheonecontaining morezinc;to thesuperiormeritsofcastas
compared withdrawnbrass;ortothebettercorrosion resisting
prop-
ertiesof the materialwiththehighercoppercontent. Additional
testshave beenundertaken in whichthe factorof galvanicaction
betweentwoconnected metalshas beeneliminated.
Comparing theratesofcorrosion of thebrasseswiththoseofiron
andsteelspecimens inthesamesoils,wefinda differencein theorder
of 10 to one.in favorofthe non-ferrous materials. This,it mustbe
remembered, is basedsolelyon theratesoflossofweightforthefirst
twoyearsof the experiment.

Fig. 1. Three Brass Soil Corrosion Specimens

The relativecorrosiveness of differentsoils withrespectto the

two materialsvariedconsiderably.Whilea soil containing white
alkali(sulphates)wasverydestructive to iron,itwasnotparticularly
corrosivewithrespectto brass. Thelossofweightofbrassinthesoil
most destructive to it was approximately halfthatof the ferrous
materialsin thesamelocation.
In thecaseofthebrasspipecontaining approximately 40 percent
zinctherewas in somesoilsan indication ofselectivecorrosion,
that
is,a corrosionwhichremovesthezincmorerapidlythanthecopper.
If ofsufficientmagnitude thismayresultin a weakening ofthepipe
beyondthe amountindicatedby the loss ofmetal. This selective
corrosionis in effect
somewhatanalogousto thepittingofsteel,al-
thoughtheoriginalcontourof the pipe surfaceis retainedas in the
case ofso-calledgraphiticcorrosionofcastiron.

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392 К. Н. LOGAN AND S. P. EWING

While the Bureau of Standards tests are too incompleteto justify

finalconclusionsas to the meritsof brass as a soil corrosionresisting
material,the available data suggestthat brassescontaininghighper-
centagesof copper resistsoil action somewhatbetterthan the high
zinc brassesand verymuch betterthan most ferrousmaterials.

Fig. 2. Corrosion op Pipe With a Bronze Weld

These two "panoramic" viewsshowthewholecircumference of a sand-cast
iron pipe buriedthreeyears in a mixtureof tidal marshsoil fromElizabeth,
N. J., and muck fromNew Orleans, La. The upper photographshows a
brazed joint, the lowera portionof thepipe beginning5 inchesaway fromthe
joint.
CORROSIONOF BRASS IN CONTACTWITH IRON
Questions have arisen occasionally regardingthe use of brass in
contactwithiron. It has been fearedby some that corrosionwould
resultbecause of the difference
of potentialbetweenthese materials.
Dr. Speller4in his book on corrosioncites a case of corrosionof a
4CorrosionCauses and Prevention,p. 516.

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 EXTERNAL CORROSION OF SERVICE PIPE 393

strainerusedin oil wellswherethegalvanicactioncorroded theiron

untilsomeofthebrassstrainer insertsfellout. Ontheotherhand,it
has beencommonpracticeformanyyearsto screwbrasscocksinto
cast ironwatermainsand veryfewcasesofcorrosion on accountof
thispracticehave beenreported.Thereare somecasesofrustcol-
lectingontheendofthecockinsidethepipeindicating, perhaps,gal-
vanicactionon thatside.
A fewyearsago theBureauofStandardsburieda number ofspeci-
mensofcastironpipehavingbronzeweldedjoints. The condition of
oneofthesejointsburiedforaboutthreeyearsis shownin figure 2.
It willbe notedthatthesurface ofthepipeshowsconsiderable corro-
sion,butthereis no markedconcentration ofthiscorrosion
nearthe
jointas would be expectedifthe corrosiveattackwereaccelerated
by
thebronzeweld.
ELECTROLYSIS TESTS OF COPPER AND BRASS PIPES

Another formofcorrosion sometimes occurson servicepipeswhich

is veryserious, and destroys suchpipesin a fraction ofthetimethey
wouldlast ifexposedonlyto theactionofcleansoil. Thisis com-
monlyreferred to as electrolysis.Thereis, ofcourse,on thepartof
thosewhohaveto copewiththistroublea desireto finda material
whichis notdestroyed byelectrolytic action. The question hasbeen
Taisedas to whether copperor brassis sucha material.
Beforediscussing theresultsoftheBureau'sstudyofthisquestion
itseemsdesirable to callattention toa fewwell-known but oftenfor-
gottenfactsregarding straycurrent electrolysis.Thisformofcorro-
sionis causedbyelectric current flowing fromthepipeto thesoiland
thisrarelyoccursexceptwhenthepipeis quitenearanothermetallic
structure or an underground watercourseand usuallyonlyin the
neighborhood of a street railway powerhouse or substation.While
underunusualcircumstances it is quitepossibleforelectrolytic cor-
rosionto occurat locationsremotefromsubstations, muchof the
corrosion foundundersuchconditionsand attributed to straycur-
rentsis actuallycausedby localsoilaction. Onlya verysmallpor-
tionofthewaterservicesofa cityis exposedto electrolysis and the
question ofwhether a pipe will resistelectrolysis
is, except in special
cases,ofno greatimportance.Sincethelocationswhereelectrolysis
is apt to occurareusuallyknownat leastin a generalway,it would
seembestto givetheselocationsspecialand separateconsideration.
In thecaseofironandsteelpipe,it has beenfoundthattherateof

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 TABLE 1
Resultson electrolysis
testofnon-ferrous
metals
PERCENTAGE OP CONSTITUENTS RESISTI V-
ITT IN COBFPI-
ELECTRO-
OHMS PBR С0**0" CIBNT °P
VTTMBER
NUMBER LTTiC
LYTIC
yoOT_ SION LOS8 CORRO.
Cu Zn Pb Fe pound LO8S sion
xio-6

grams grams
1 99.96 (phosphorus0.020) 4.15 0.16 1.28* 1.28
1.29 1.30
0.17 5.78t 1.20
5.68 1.23
0.08 3.01J 1.32
3.11

2 99.94 (oxygen0.03) 3.20 0.15 1.27* 1.27

1.21 1.21
0.12 5.62f 1.17
5.51 1.15
0.02 2.84J 1.36
2.95 1.30

3 99.962 3.22 0.21 1.24* 1.24

1.25 1.25
0.16 5.87t 122
5.53 1.15
0.04 2.66Î 1.17
2.89 1.27

4 99.965 (phosphorus0.012) 3.77 0.23 1.19* 1.19

1.31 1.32
0.18 5.95t 1.24
5.67 1.18
0.07 2.58t 1.14
2.68 1.17

5 99.953 (phosphorus0.008) 3.49 0.14 1.15* 1.15

1.23 1.23
0.18 5.63t 1.17
5.56 1.16
0.04 2.54t 1.12
2.88 1.27
* Surfacesoil fromBureau of Standardsgroundswith30
per cent moisture
added. 3.7 milliamperesper square foot. Effectivevoltage about 0.16 volt
percell for1689hours.
t Same soil with30 per moistureadded, 18.5milliamperesper square foot.
Effectivevoltage about 0.4 volts per cell for1689hours.
t Sand with5 per cent moistureadded. 120 milliamperesper square foot
at first. Fell to 12milliamperes
persquare foot. Average23 milliamperes per
square foot. Effectivevoltage per cell 3 volts which soon was raised to 9
volts.
Chemicalanalyseswerefurnishedby the manufacturers who suppliedthe
materials.
394

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 TABLE 1- Continued

PERCENTAGE OP CONSTITUENTS RESISTIV-

ITY IN млгтИО СОБГГ1-
OHMS PER CORRO- "^„IC° CIENT OP
NUMBER U™~ CORRO-
_ FOOT- SION LOSS LOSS
Cu Zn Pb Fe pound sion
ХЮ-ь

grams grama
6 84.56 15.35 0.03 0.04 8.80 0.20 1.13* 1.13
1.24 1.23
0.19 5.17t 107
5.18 1.07
0.06 2.34Î 1.02
2.39 1.04

7 79.99 19.94 0.03 0.04 9.64 0.18 1.07* 1.06

1.08 1.07
0.26 5.42f 1.12
5.05 1.04
0.05 2.14t 0.94
2.09 0.91

8 67.57 31.84 0.57 0.02 11.09 0.14 1.18* 1.16

1.09 1.06
0.19 4.99t 1.01
5.10 1.03
0.08 2.55Î 1.09
2.51

9 61.18 38.54 0.26 0.02 11.05 0.17 0.98* 0.95

1.00 0.99
0.20 4.69t 0.96
4.63 0.95
0.11 2.40Î 1.03
2.37 1.02

10 60.00 39.8 0.10 0.04 10.92 0.20 0.92* 0.91

105 104
0.18 4.80t 0.99
4.62 0.96
0.12 2.29t 1 00
2.35 1.02

11 73.90 5.21 0.00 0.10 50.8 0.11 1.29* 1.32

(Nickel20.18percent) 1.21 1.22
I 0.15 7.05t 1-50
6.75 1.43
0.05 2.12t 1.17
2.75 1.23

12 95.44 0.05 (Si 3.17) 46.6 0.29 1.20* 1.24

(Mn 1.10) 122 1.26
0.29 6.43f 138
5.33 1.14
0.12 2.76t 125
2.37 1.07

395

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396 К. Н. LOGAN AND S. P. EWING

electrolyticcorrosion is roughly proportional to the currentleaving

thepipe,although thecharacter ofthesoilanddensity of currentdis-
chargehavesomeeffects on therateand character ofcorrosion.
The Bureauof Standardshas had the cooperation of the Ameri-
canBrassCompanyandtheMuellerBrassCompanyin the studyof
the electrolytic corrosion of copperand brassservicepipe. After
somepreliminary experiments, samplesof 12 non-ferrous materials
weretestedunderthreeconditions and thecoefficients ofelectrolytic
corrosion determined.The resultsofthesetestsaregivenin table1.
ThisCoefficientis theratiooftheactuallosscausedbythedischarge
ofa givenquantityofelectricity to thetheoretical lossas indicated
byFaraday'slaw whichsaysthattheloss dependson thequantity
ofelectricity and theelectrochemical equivalentweightofthemetal.
Thusthetheoretical lossofferrous ironis approximately 1.042grams
peramperehour, the loss of cupriccopper 1.186 gramsperampere
hourand of zinc 1.219gramsperamperehour,whilethatof brass
dependson therelativeamountsofcopperand zinc.
In computing theresultsgivenin thetablewe have assumedthe
valenceofeachoftheingredients ofthealloyto be two,withtheex-
ception of siliconwhich has been taken as four. We have assumed
also thatthecurrent dividesbetweentheelements in proportion to
the equivalentamountspresent. This assumption is not correct,
but it is nearlyenoughtrueforthe purposesof thispaper. The
assumption thatthecopperis bivalentis,however, opento question.
In workdoneintheMetallurgical DivisionoftheBureauon acceler-
ated corrosion testsby the electrolytic method,betteragreement
has beenfoundbetweenactuallossesand thosecalculatedby Fara-
day'slawwhenthecopperwasassumedto passintosolution inmono-
valentform. Untilourresultsarecheckedby further teststhenu-
merical valuesmusttherefore be considered as tentative.
To determine thecoefficient ofcorrosion undera givencondition
a specimen ofeachmaterialwas placedinthecenterofan ironcylin-
der6 incheshighand6 inchesindiameter. Thespecimens witha few
exceptions werecutfromf inch(iron-pipe-size) pipe. The lowerend
oftheironcylinder wasclosedbya pieceofinsulating materialandthe
cylinderwas filledwith moistearthorsand,carebeingtakento keep
themoisture content uniform.The centralcopperor brasspipewas
madeanodicand the iron cylinder cathodic,the voltagebeingso
regulated as to secure a predetermined rate of currentdischarge.
To distinguish betweenelectrolytic and soil actiona controlspeci-

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 EXTERNAL CORROSION OF SERVICE PIPE 397

men was placed in the soil near one side of the cylinderand screened
fromthe currentby surroundingit with a cylinderof copperscreen
wireabout 2 inches in diameter. This screen shuntedthe current
around the controlspecimen but allowed free diffusionof the soil
moistureand gases. To reduce the loss of moistureon account of
evaporationthe exposed surfaceof the soil was coveredby a thin
layerof paraffin.
Two specimensof each materialweresubjectedto each electrolytic
test condition,but as two of the soils in the tests wereidentical,one
controlspecimenof each materialwas deemedsufficient foreach cur-
rentdensity. The currentwas regulatedby a resistancein serieswith
the specimensand the total ampere-hoursdeterminedby means of a
coppervoltameter. Figure3 showsthearrangement of theapparatus.
SttlCLÛ
МЯС CAI/ZC 6AUZL 3M£LO
gg£

. 2. 23 2Ф RESISTANCE. I
VARIABLE

• ^®
MRS HLLEO WITH SOIL OR GRAVEL
NEGATIVE ELECTRODE IRON PIPC
. I . POSITIVE ELECTRODE COFFER OR COPFER ALLOY

switch) ¡m^

соррсл voiTAmrc*:
Fig 3. Arrangement op Electrolysis Te«st

Three tests were made, two with moist soil and one with moist
sand. In one of the tests in soil the currentdensityat the surface
of the specimenswas maintainedat approximately3.7 milliamperes
per square footof pipe surface. This is a value which is near the
lowerlimitof currentdensitiesusuallyconsidereddangerousfroman
electrolysisstandpoint.
The voltagedrop across a singlecell was approximately0.75 volt,
a value not infrequently encounteredin electrolysissurveys. This
was opposed by an e.m.f. of about 0.6 volt caused by the galvanic
action betweeniron and copper. The second test in soils was run
at a currentdensityof about 18.5 milliamperesper square foot,a
value whichrepresentssevereelectrolysisconditionsalthoughvalues
severaltimesas greathave been observedunderactual operatingcon-

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398 К. Н. LOGAN AND S. P. EWING

ditions. In bothoftheaboveteststhesoilwasso moistas to afford

an approximately uniform contactwiththepipeand consequently a
fairlyuniform distribution of thecorrosion.Thesetestscontinued
1689hours. In thethirdtestsandwasusedto securea condition of
nonuniform discharge and high current density. The experiment
ran619hoursstarting witha current density of120milliamperes per
squarefoot. This current densitycouldnot be maintainedandit
graduallydecreasedto 12 milliamperes per square foot. Table 1
showsthedata forthethreetests.
The data on thecomposition of thespecimens werefurnished by
themanufacturers supplying the materials.
The data on theelectrical resistivityofthespecimens indicatethat
all buttwoofthemaresuperior to steelas conductors of electricity.
As willbe pointedout morefullylater,thetestsindicatethat this
greater conductivity doesnotreducetherateofelectrolytic corrosion.
Indeedthespecimens withthegreatestconductivity apparently have
thegreatestrateofloss. Thisrelationis moreapparentthanreal,
sinceelectrolysis is a function not ofthe capacityofa pipe to con-
ductcurrent, butofthecurrent whichitdischarges andthisdischarge
is determined by the potential thepipewithrespectto someother
of
conductor and the resistance of theearthbetweenthem. The po-
tentialdifference betweenthestructures is determined by a number
offactors, amongwhichtheresistance oftheservicepipeis oflittle
importance.
Thedataunderthecolumnheaded"Corrosion Loss" showthetotal
lossesofthespecimens notexposedto electrolysis, i.e.,theextentof
theactionofthesoilorsand. It willbenotedthatin somecasesthe
specimen inthesoilcarrying thesmallercurrent lostmoreandinother
cases less than the corresponding specimenin thesoilcarrying the
largercurrent density, andthattheaveragesoil corrosion lossin the
twosoilsis substantially thesame. Thisindicates thatthevariations
in lossesof thecorresponding specimens is accidentaland that the
screenswhichsurrounded themwereeffective inpreventing corrosion
bythecurrent inthesoil. The thirdvalueforeachmaterialis differ-
entbecausethisspecimenwas in sand and was exposedfora much
shorter period. The soil-corrosion lossesare too smalland thetest
continued too shorta timeto justifypositiveconclusions as to the
relativemeritsof the materialsused. Apparently somematerials
resisttheactionof the soil used in the testsomewhatbetterthan
others.

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 EXTERNAL CORROSION OF SERVICE PIPE 399

Theelectrolytic loss is determined by subtracting theloss caused

by soil corrosion from the total loss of the specimenexposedto
electrolysis.
The columnshowing the coefficient ofcorrosion is ofgreatestin-
terest. The determination of this figure has been previously dis-
cussed. The coefficient foreach specimenis given in order thatthe
variationbetweentwo specimensexposedto the same conditions
maybe notedand compared withthevariationin thecoefficients for
different materials. It willbe notedthatin no case is the coeffici-
entofcorrosion muchbelowunity. Thismeansthattheactualloss
causedby thedischarge ofcurrent is approximately whatwouldbe
predicted fromtheatomicweightand valenceofthecomponents of
thealloyandthatfora givenamountofcurrent discharged thelosses
areaboutthesameas wouldbe sustainedbyironorsteelundersimi-
larelectrolysis conditions.
As has been previouslyindicatedthe numericalvaluesof these
coefficients dependon theassumption ofa valencyoftwoforcopper
and may possiblybe considerably in error. The essentialfactis,
however, thatthebrasspipesaredestroyed whencurrent flowsfrom
themjustas ironor steelpipesare.
In manyinstancespipesin servicefailthrough smallholesrather
thanon accountoflossofmetal;thatis,thedistribution ofthecorro-
sionis moreimportant thanthetotalamount. Figure4 showsthe
electrolysis specimens afterthe test. The upperrowof specimens
weresubjectedto thelowcurrent densityin wetsoiland thebottom
rowto rather high current density in sandcontaining 5 percentmois-
ture. The numbers abovethespecimens referto theircomposition
as indicatedin thetable. Comparison of therowsshowsthat the
type of corrosion is a function of the kind ofalloyand ofthetypeof
contactbetweenthespecimens and thesoil. The appearanceofthe
specimens containing a largepercentage ofzincdiffers fromthat of
theothersbecausethecorrosion oftheformer is selectiveleavingthe
contour ofthesurfaceunchanged.That thecorrosion ofthesespeci-
mensis irregular is indicatedinfigure 5 whichshowsmicrographs of
a crosssectionoffourspecimens.
The magnification in each of the micrographs is 100 times.
Specimen A shows the type of corrosion ofan of
alloy approximately
60 percentcopperand40 percentzincwhenthespecimen discharged
current at theaveragerateof2.8 milliamperes persquarefoot. The
surrounding mediumwasmoistsandandgraveland thecurrent den-

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400 К. Н. LOGAN AND S. P. EWING

sityat thepointsofdischarge
ofcurrent
wasconsiderably than
greater
the averagerate. The specimenappearedspottedwhen cleaned
buttherewasno indication ofpits. The micrograph
showsdezincifi-

Fig. 4. Appearance of Specimens After Test

cationor selectivecorrosion
similarto thatencountered
in thecorro-
sionof Muntzmetalnot exposedto electrolysis.6Micrographs B,
5See Bureauof StandardsTechnologic
Paper No. 103,TypicalCases of
Deterioration
ofMuntzMetalsbySelectiveCorrosion.

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 EXTERNAL CORROSION OF SERVICE PIPE 401

C, and D showthetypesofcorrosion ofspecimens cur-

discharging
rentat theaveragerateof18.5milliamperes
persquarefootintowet
soil.
The surfaceof specimenВ was smoothbut markedby copper
coloredspots. To the unaidedeye,the crosssectionof thespeci-

Fig. 5. Sections of Specimens of Muntz Metal and Other Brasses

Showing Penetration of Corrosion. (Magnification X 52)
A, 40 per cent zinc; currentdensity2.8 m.a. per square foot. B, 38.5 per
cent zinc; currentdensity18.5 m a. per square foot. C, 31.6 per cent zinc;
currentdensity18.5 m.a. per square foot. D, 19.9 per cent zinc; current
density18.5m.a. persquare foot.

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4Ö2 К. Н. LOGAN AND S. P. EWING

men shows at certainlocations,copper colored streaksentirelysur-

roundedby brass coloredareas. MicrographВ showsthattherehas
been a change in the structureof the metal for a considerabledis-
tance belowthe surface. MicrographС shows the structureof cor-
rosionspot in a brass containingabout 31 per cent zinc. Some of
themetalwas removedfromthesurfaceleavingslightdepressions,but
the corrosionpenetratedmuch furtherthan the depression. Micro-
graphD was made froma specimencontainingapproximately20 per
centzinc. Here thereis littleindicationofselectivecorrosionand the
depth of the pit indicates the extent of the corrosion. It will be
notedthatthecorrosionpenetratesfurther in thespecimenssubjectto
selective corrosionalthough to the eye these specimensappear to
sufferless.
A studyof the coefficients of corrosionsuggestssome ratherinter-
estingideas. It willbe noticed thatforall kindsofspecimensexcept
the nickel alloy the coefficient of corrosionis greaterfor the lower
currentdensity. This is in conformity with the resultsobtainedby
Ganz6and by the Bureau of Standards7in studiesof the coefficient of
electrolytic corrosion of iron and steel.
The data tabulated seem to show a tendencyfor the coefficient
ofcorrosionto decreaseas the percentageofcopperis decreasedorthe
percentageofzincincreased. Whetherthisrelationactuallyexistsor
appearsonlybecause ofsomeerroneousassumptionas to thetheoreti-
cal rate of corrosionof the copper-zincalloysis not clear,but thefact
that the corrosionof some brasses appears to be selective and the
experienceof electro-platers of brass that thebrassdepositedby elec-
trolysisdiffersin copper contentfromthat of the brass used as an
anode indicate that the assumptionmade in determiningthe coef-
ficientofcorrosionofbrassis notstrictlycorrect. This questionmust
be leftformorescientific study. Nevertheless,the data seemto indi-
cate ratherconclusivelythat copperand brass are no moreresistant
to electrolysisthan iron or steel.
In practicetheremay arise an electrolysisconditionnot covered
by thedata givenabove. Since it is commonpracticefora citywater
departmentto ownthe servicepipe up to the curb,whilethe property
holderownsthe part fromthe curbto the house,it may happen that
one sectionoftheservicepipe is ofcopperor brass whilethe othersec-
6 Proc. A. I. E. E., vol. 31, p. 1167.
7 Bureau of Standards
TechnologicPaper No. 259.

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 EXTERNAL CORROSION OF SERVICE PIPE 403

tionis of steel. Usuallythe discharge ofcurrent willoccurlargely

at thepointwherethe serviceis nearestthe conductor causingthe
discharge, e.g.,wheretheservicecrossesthe streetcar trackor the
gas main. In somecases,however, thedischarge maybe to a parallel
conductor, say an irongas servicepipe. Undersuch circumstances
the ironpartof the waterservicewill be approximately 0.6 volt
higher in potential than the copper section and consequently will
discharge most ofthe current and so suffermost of thecorrosion.
Thisis illustratedbyan experiment inwhicha pieceofcopperand a
piece ofsteel pipe were connected in paralleland madeanodicto an
ironcathodein soil. The twoanodeshad thesameareas, but the
copperlost0.28gramwhiletherewasa lossof4.57gramsat the iron
anode. A secondcell in serieswiththe one above mentionedand
thuscarrying the same currenthad a singleironanode whichlost
4.97 gramsor approximately thesumofthelossesofthetwoanodes
whichwerein parallel.
It appears,therefore, thata condition may existunderwhicha
copper service pipe resists electrolysis becauseof its inherently
not
superiorqualities, but because it is protected by theironto whichit
is connected.However,as was said before, usuallythepointofdis-
charge of current willbe controlled by the positionoftheconductor
the
receiving discharge and under such conditions onekindof pipe
is substantially as goodas anotherso faras electrolysis is concerned
ifofequal wallthickness.
SUMMARY
Data nowavailablewhileincomplete indicateina generalwaythat
copperand brasspipehighin copperwithstand mostsoilactionvery
well. Littleis to be fearedfromgalvanicactionontheoutsideofthe
pipe causedby connecting steel to copperor brass in most soils.
Undermostelectrolysis conditionstherateofcorrosion is nearlyin-
dependent ofthecharacter ofthepipematerialandthelifeofa water
servicepipe exposedto electrolysis will dependlargelyupon the
thicknessofthepipewall.

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