Indoor corrosion failures of aluminum-finned copper-tube evaporator coils, and also in some systems without aluminum fins, is a menacing issue in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. Extensive laboratory testing has verified the development of a reproducible screening method to assess suspected contaminants of producing premature failures of copper tube resulting from a very localized form of corrosion known as “formicary corrosion” [a/k/a “ant nest corrosion”]. This paper provides a historical perspective on formicary corrosion and various mechanisms.

Subject
Acids, Pits, Water, Acid concentration, Formates, Thermal degradation, Oxide formation, Tubes, Corrosion products, Fluids, Formic acid, Acetic acid, Copper
Government work published by the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) with permission of the author(s). Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2004
GOV
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