Inhibitive effects of benzotriazole on the stress corrosion cracking of α-brass in nitrite solution

The addition of benzotriazole (BTA) to 0.1 M sodium nitrite solution produces an inhibitive effect on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of α-brass under applied anodic potential. The maximum stress and the time to failure increased with the BTA concentration. The mode of cracking changed from transgranular, in nitrite solution alone or in the presence of low concentrations of BTA, to ductile failure at higher concentrations of BTA. Some electrochemical measurements were obtained to complement the SCC measurements. The results are interpreted in the light of the inhibiting effects of BTA on dezincification, and hence the subsequent SCC of the brass.