Marine Corrosion of Copper Alloys: an Overview

Copper and its alloys have long been utilized in marine environments for a variety of reasons. One important property is resistance to fouling by marine organisms. Copper and many of its alloys have the ability to suppress attachment of marine animals, possibly due to the toxic effects of the corrosion products or copper ions released as part of the corrosion process. Useful fouling resistance is shown for most copper base alloys used in marine applications except for the copper-nickel alloys containing greater than about 50% Ni.(1) Fouling resistance alone makes copper alloys attractive as materials of construction for marine applications. However, corrosion resistance is another important factor. In this regard, copper alloys, depending on alloy composition, can vary considerably.