8 - Galvanic corrosion of nickel–aluminium bronze coupled to titanium or Cu-15Ni alloy in brackish seawater

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter mentions that galvanic corrosion is one of the most common and damaging forms of corrosion. It occurs when two dissimilar metals or alloys are in electrical contact in an electrolyte, resulting in accelerated corrosion of the more electrochemically active of the two metals. It is the generally accepted view that there is little acceleration of corrosion when two copper-based alloys are galvanic-coupled. Likewise, titanium is often coupled with copper-based alloys despite being much more electropositive, a combination that can work because titanium is not a very efficient cathode for reducing oxygen. Galvanic corrosion becomes a more complex process in seawater that supports the growth of biofilms, such as the colonization and the subsequent development of microorganism clusters, together with the Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS). The chapter discusses galvanic corrosion of nickel–aluminum bronze coupled to titanium or Cu-15Ni alloy in brackish seawater.