Evaluation of Expansion Process to Improve Corrosion Resistance of Copper Tubes with High Residual Carbon on the Inner Surface

Abstract

Residual carbon on the inner surface of copper tubes is known to be a cause of pitting corrosion. We showed previously that the rapid filling test was useful to evaluate the pitting corrosion resistance of copper tubes. Immersion tests using the rapid evaluation test solution showed that corrosion occurs on the entire surface of copper tubes with low residual carbon amounts, while those with high residual carbon amounts show pitting corrosion. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the corrosion resistance of copper tubes with high residual carbon amount, which are expected to undergo pitting corrosion. As pitting corrosion occurs when anodes are locally concentrated on part of the metal surface, it has been suggested that anodes be dispersed over the entire surface by the processing of the metal surface. Metal processing methods have various purposes, including changing the shape and properties of metals, and in this case, leading to desirable surface properties (such as expansion and drawing processes). Here, we focused on the expansion process and its effects on corrosion resistance of copper tubes. The results showed that hydraulic expansion has a significant effect on the inner copper surface by improving corrosion resistance as the anode area increases.