Failure analysis of a lead-free brass tap used in potable water

In this case study, the failure cause of a lead-free brass tap was investigated. The features of cracks were carefully studied by macroscopic inspection, chemical analysis, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The analysis results show...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Engineering failure analysis 2016-01, Vol.59, p.377-383
Main Authors: Chunlei, Gan, Dongfu, Song, Kaihong, Zheng, Haiyan, Wang, Nan, Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bismuth
Brasses
Crack
FAILURE
Failure analysis
Fracture mechanics
Intergranular fracture
Lead free
Lead-free brass tap
Scanning electron microscopy
Segregations
WATER
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Summary:In this case study, the failure cause of a lead-free brass tap was investigated. The features of cracks were carefully studied by macroscopic inspection, chemical analysis, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The analysis results showed that the micro segregation of bismuth in the failed lead-free brass tap was considered as an important reason for crack formation. Further examination indicated that coarse bismuth rich phases were distributed mainly along grain boundaries. The cracks were found to be a typical intergranular failure, which revealed brittle fracture for the failed lead-free brass tap. It is expected that this work may help reduce the incidences of failures during the productive process of the lead-free brass taps. •Crack formation was attributed to the micro segregation of bismuth.•The cracks formed will propagate through the grain boundaries.•The cracks were a typical intergranular failure.
ISSN:1350-6307
1873-1961
DOI:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2015.11.010