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How to stop galvanic corrosion between copper and steel

I need to know how to prevent galvanic corrosion from happening between copper and steel. I couldn't find anything on the internet that is practical so if anyone has any ideas it would really help.

John G.
Student - Columbus twp., Michigan
2004

2004

Hi, John. I don't know if you are talking about a piping system, or about fastening sheets of copper to a steel structure, or components on a circuit board. So odds are that whatever idea I have is completely inapplicable to your problem, or is one that you have already dismissed as impractical.

So please tell us what is your situation, and what suggestions did you decide were impractical? Thanks.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.

John, something else you can do is go to the ASSIST website, use the 'Quicksearch' option, and get a copy of MIL-STD-889. Then READ it. There is a lot of good information on galvanic corrosion there, including suggestions on what to do about it.

Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
2004

To reduce the effects of galvanic corrosion in piping systems the installation of one of the following items will be required:

Below ground systems - anode bag ⇦ huh? connected to piping system (based on soil type and condition)

Aboveground - dielectric unions or waterways on small piping sytems, dielectric flanges on larger piping systems as well as grounding of system in certain cases.

Carter Johnson
- Toledo, Ohio
December 5, 2008

THANK YOU CARTER JOHNSON. THANX FOR CONFIRMING MY QUESTION ON GALVANIC CORROSION BETWEEN COPPER AND STEEL. SOME JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DIELECTRIC UNIONS IN COMMERCIAL HOT WATER SYSTEMS.

GLEN DECKER
ATLANTIC BOILER - SAINT CLOUD FLORIDA USA
July 13, 2009

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