ABSTRACT
Copper-based alloys are traditionally used as wrought products and castings in marine and naval engineering where good resistance to seawater corrosion is required. Alloys found in marine service are grouped into brasses, bronzes, gunmetals, copper-nickels, and copper-beryllium. Coppers essentially contain more than 99.9% copper and have been used in marine environments for centuries. Binary copper-tin alloys can be rolled and drawn to increase their strength and hardness by cold work. Although copper-nickel alloys have a long history of use in marine environments because of their excellent corrosion properties and good antifouling properties, they have moderate mechanical properties that are improved by cold working. Copper and copper alloys have a high degree of resistance to atmospheric corrosion. The corrosion resistance of copper and copper-based alloys in seawater is determined by the nature of the naturally occurring and protective corrosion product film that forms on their surface. Copper alloys can withstand chlorination levels normally used for controlling fouling in mixed-metal seawater systems.
