Nine months in the acid bath!

Nine months in the acid bath!

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 6 March 2019 at 09:20 by nigel jones 5.

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5 March 2019 at 20:50 #398861
nigel jones 5
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@nigeljones5
Whilst making a 2" scale boiler for a traction engine mid 2018 I missplaced one of the inner firebox plates, so made a new one and carried on. Yesterday I was forced to extract a boiler from the acid bath by hand (vets full arm glove) and to my suprise came across the lost plate laying on the bottom. I had always wondered what effect long term acid soaking would have on copper. Anything over a day with brass is very bad news – im using 30% Sulphuric Acid so its strong stuff. The plate in question has a little crystalisation of acid salts on its surface but other than that was in perfect condition – I wont be using it but I wasnt expecting it to look as well as it does.
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5 March 2019 at 20:50 #26472
nigel jones 5
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@nigeljones5
5 March 2019 at 21:27 #398869
Robin Graham
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@robingraham42208
Copper is one of the least reactive metals, barring the 'precious metals' – it will react with oxidising acids (eg nitric), but only slowly with others. I believe nuclear waste is buried in copper containers for this reason.

Robin
6 March 2019 at 01:20 #398877
Danny M2Z
Participant
@dannym2z
When I snapped a Mills 1.3 crankshaft in a partially turned 2024 aluminium alloy spinner-nut I put it into a plastic yogurt container, covered it with sulphuric acid (battery concentration) and left it in the garden.

After six weeks the steel shaft finally turned to a black powder that was easily flushed out.

There were a few dark spots in the aluminium which had turned gray but it was only on the surface and machined away easily.

* Danny M *
6 March 2019 at 08:42 #398885
Brian H
Participant
@brianh50089
That's very interesting. I get in a panic leaving copper in my suphuric acid bath (only about 5%) but from the above I'm worrying quite unnecessarily!

Brian
6 March 2019 at 09:20 #398893
nigel jones 5
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@nigeljones5
Me too Brian, thought this might put a few minds at rest!
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