Passivity breakdown and stress corrosion cracking of α-brass in sodium nitrite solutions

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of pure copper and four α-brasses of different zinc alloy concentration in NaNO ₂ 1 M solution, at various pH values, was studied by means of potentiodynamic polarisation curves and constant potential slow strain rate experiments. The results confirmed that passivity rupture was a necessary condition for SCC of α-brass and copper in nitrite solutions. Susceptibility to SCC was observed only when the potential was equal to or higher than a certain critical value at which passivity breakdown was triggered by the slow dynamic straining of the metal. Cracks were found only in those metal areas where passivity rupture had taken place.