Stress Corrosion Cracking of Admiralty Brass in Aqueous Copper Sulfate

Admiralty brass (Cu-Zn-Sn) is shown to be susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in copper sulfate solutions. Fracture surfaces of the resultant transgranular cracks are characterized by cleavage like features. Surface analysis by scanning Auger microprobe revealed a high concentration of tin at the leading edge of the propagating stress corrosion crack. The fractographic features and the presence of tin suggest that hydrogen embrittlement may be involved in the cracking mechanism.