Problem 7.3: A contractor connects a new carbon steel
From Chapter 7 Problem Set. Level 1: Conceptual Mastery.
Question
A contractor connects a new carbon steel header directly to existing copper piping with no dielectric union. Which metal will corrode preferentially, and why?
Answer
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Carbon steel corrodes. It is less noble than copper on the galvanic series. When both metals share an electrolyte and metallic path, the less noble metal (steel) becomes the anode and loses electrons preferentially.