Corrosion Resistance of Copper and Copper Alloys
CDA No 106
(Data supplied by Copper Development Association for publication elsewhere as part of a table covering a wide range of materials)
An R indicates that the material is resistant to the named chemical up to the temperature shown, subject to limitations indicated by the footnotes. An 'X' indicates that the material is not recommended.
| Aluminium Bronze | Brass (a) | Copper | Copper-Nickel 90/10 alloys (b) | Gunmetal and Bronze (c) | |||||||||||
| Temperature, Celcius | 20° | 60° | 100° | 20° | 60° | 100° | 20° | 60° | 100° | 20° | 60° | 100° | 20° | 60° | 100° |
| Acetaldehyde | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Acetic acid (10%) | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Acetic acid (glac./anh.) | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Acetic anhydride | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | X |
| Aceto-acetic ester | R | R | R | R(82) | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Acetone | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Other ketones | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Acetonitrile | R(36) | X | X | X | X | X | R(36) | X | X | R(36) | X | X | R(36) | X | X |
| Acetylene | X | X | X | R | R | R(82) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Acetyl salicylic acid | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R(36) | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Acid fumes | R(2) | R(2) | R(2) | X | X | X | R(2) | R(2) | R(2) | R(2) | R(2) | R(2) | X | X | X |
| Alcohols (mostly fatty) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Aliphatic esters | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Alkyl chlorides | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Alum | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Aluminium chloride | R (20) | R (20) | X | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Aluminium sulphate | R | R | R | R(119) | R(119) | X | R(119) | R(20, 119) | R(20, 119) | R | R | R | R(119) | R(119) | R(119) |
| Ammonia, anhydrous | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R(83) | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Ammonia, aqueous | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Ammonium chloride | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Amyl acetate | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Aniline | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Antimony trichloride | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | R | X | X |
| Aqua regia | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Aromatic solvents | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Ascorbic acid | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Beer | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Benzaldehyde | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Benzene, pure | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Benzoic acid | R | R | R | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | X | X | X |
| Benzoyl peroxide | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data |
| Boric acid | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Brines, saturated | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R(20) | R | R | R | R | R | X |
| Bromide (K) solution | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | X | R | R | R | R | R | X |
| Bromine | R(20) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R(11) | R(11) | R(11) | X | X | X |
| Bromine liquid, tech. | R | X | X | R | X | X | R | X | X | R | X | X | R | X | X |
| Bromine water, sat.aq. | R | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Butyl acetate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Calcium chloride | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Carbon disulphate | R | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Carbonic acid | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | R | X | X | X |
| Carbon tetrachloride | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Caustic soda & potash | R | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Cellulose paint | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Chlorates of Na, K, Ba | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Chlorine, dry | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Chlorine, wet | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Chlorides of Na, K, Mg | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R(20) | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Chloroacetic acids | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data |
| Chlorobenzene | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Chloroform | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Chlorosulphonic acid | R(20) | R(20) | X | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | R | R | R | X | X | X |
| Chromic acid (80%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Citric acid | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Copper salts (most) | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | R | R | R |
| Cresylic acids (50%) | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Cyclohexane | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Detergents, synthetic | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Emulsifiers (all conc.) | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data |
| Esters | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Ether | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Fatty acids (>C6) | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Ferric chloride | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Ferrous sulphate | R(20) | R(20) | R(20) | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Fluorinated refrigerants | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Fluorine, dry | R | R | R(11) | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Fluorine, wet | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Fluorosilic acid | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Formaldehyde (40%) | R | R | R | R | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Formic acid | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Fruit juices | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Gelatine | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Glycerine | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Glycols | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Glycol, ethylene | R | X | X | R | X | X | R | R | R | R(175) | R(175) | R(175) | R | R | R |
| Glycollic acid | R(36) | X | X | R(36) | X | X | R(36) | X | X | R(36) | X | X | R(36) | X | X |
| Hexamethylene diamine | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hexamine | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrazine | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrobromic acid (50%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrochloric acid (10%) | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrochloric acid (conc.) | R(62) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrocyanic acid | R(20) | R(20) | R(20) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrofluoric acid (40%) | R(62) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrofluoric acid (75%) | R(62) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrogen peroxide (30%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrogen peroxide (30-90%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hydrogen sulphide | R(11) | R | R | R(11) | R | R | R(11) | R | R | R(11) | R(11) | R(11) | R(11) | R | R |
| Hypochlorites | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Hypochlorite (Na 12-14%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R |
| Iso-butyl acetate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Lactic acid (90%) | R | R | X | X | X | X | R | R | X | R | R | X | R(4) | R(4) | X |
| Lead acetate | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | X | X | X | X |
| Lead perchlorate | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Lime (CaO) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Maleic acid | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | X | No data | No data | No data |
| Manganate, pot (K) | R | X | X | R | X | X | R(60) | R(60) | X | X | X | X | R(60) | R(60) | X |
| Meat juices | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X |
| Mercuric chloride | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Mercury | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Methanol | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Methylene chloride | R | R | R | R(82) | R(82) | R(82) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Milk & milk products | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Moist air | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Molasses | R(30) | R(30) | R(30) | R(30) | R | X | R(30) | R | R | R | R | R | R(30) | R | R |
| Monoethanolamine | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Naphtha | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Naphthalene | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data |
| Nickel salts | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Nitrates of Na, K, NH3 | R(73) | R(73) | R(73) | X | X | X | X | X | X | R(73) | R(73) | X | X | X | X |
| Nitric acid (<25%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nitric acid (50%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nitric acid (90%) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nitric acid, fuming | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nitrite (Na) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Nitrobenzine | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Oil, diesel | R | X | X | R | X | X | R | X | X | R | X | X | R | X | X |
| Oils, essential | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Oils, lube + aromatic ads. | R | R | X | R | R | X | R | R | X | R | R | X | R | R | X |
| Oils, mineral | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Oils, vegetable & animal | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Oxalic acid | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Ozone | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data |
| Paraffin wax | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Perchloric acid | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Petroleum spirits | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Phenol | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Phosphoric acid (20%) | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | X | X | X | X |
| Phosphoric acid (50%) | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | X | X | X | X |
| Phosphoric acid (95%) | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Phosphorus chlorides | R(11) | R(11) | R(11) | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Phosphorous pentoxide | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X |
| Phthalic acid | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Picric acid | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Pyridine | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X |
| Salicyl aldehyde | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data |
| Sea water | R | R | R | R(62) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Silicic acid | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data |
| Silicone fluids | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Silver nitrate | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sodium carbonate | R | R | R(4) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Sodium peroxide | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sodium silicate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Sodium sulphide | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Stannic chloride | R(11) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Starch | R | R | X | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Sugar soln, syrups, jams | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Sulphamic acid | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X |
| Sulphates (Na, K, Mg, Ca) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Suphites | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Sulphonic acids | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | X | X | X | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data |
| Sulphur | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sulphur dioxide, dry | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | X | R | R | R |
| Sulphur dioxide, wet | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sulphur dioxide, (96%) | R | R | R | X | X | X | R(20) | R(20) | X | R | R(20) | X | R(20) | R(20) | R(20) |
| Sulphur trioxide | R(11)b | R | R | R(11) | R | R | R(11) | R | R | R(11) | R | X | R(11) | R | R |
| Sulphuric acid (<50%) | R | R | R | X | X | X | R | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sulphuric acid (70%) | R | R(62) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sulphuric acid (95%) | R(62) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sulphuric acid, fuming | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Sulphur chlorides | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Tallow | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data |
| Tannic acid (10%) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Tartaric acid | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Trichlorethylene | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Urea (30%) | R | R | X | R | R | X | R | R | X | R | R | X | R | R | No data |
| Vinegar | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | R | R | R | X | X | X |
| Water, distilled | R(53) | R | X | X | X | X | R(53) | R | X | R | R | R | R(53) | R | R |
| Water, soft | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Water, hard | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Wetting agents (to 5%) | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Yeast | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R | No data | No data | No data | R | R | R |
| Zinc chloride | R | R | R | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Footnotes:
(a) Brass: Some type of brass have less corrosion resistance than is shown on the chart, others have more, e.g. Aluminium brass.
(b) Copper-nickel alloys: Based on behaviour of Cu/Ni 90/10; 70/30 may be generally more resistant.
(c) Gunmetal: The data refer only to high tin gunmetals.
(2) Depending on the acid.
(4) Fair resistance.
(11) Anhydrous
(20) Not aerated solutions
(30) Depending on composition
(36) Over 85%.
(53) In absence of dissolved O2 and CO2
(60) May discolour liquid/ product
(62) Depending on type.
(73) Not ammonium.
(82) Provided more than 70% copper.
(83) Water less than 150ppm.
(119) Pure solution.
(175) With stabiliser
