INHIBITIVE EFFECTS OF BENZOTRIAZOLE ON THE STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING OF ALPHA-BRASS IN NITRITE SOLUTION

The addition of benzotriazole (BTA) to 0.1 M sodium nitrite solution p roduces an inhibitive effect on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of a-brass under applied anodic potential. The maximum stress and the ri me to failure increased with the BTA concentration. The mode of cracki ng changed from transgranular, in nitrite solution alone or in the pre sence of low concentrations of BTA, to ductile failure at higher conce ntrations of BTA. Some electrochemical measurements were obtained to c omplement the SCC measurements. The results are interpreted in the lig ht of the inhibiting effects of BTA on dezincification, and hence the subsequent SCC of the brass.