Brass PEX fittings can corrode due to several factors, primarily related to the material composition and environmental conditions:
1. **Dezincification**: Many brass alloys contain zinc, which makes them susceptible to a process called dezincification. When exposed to certain water conditions (e.g., acidic or alkaline water, or water with high chloride content), the zinc in the brass can leach out, leaving behind a porous, weaker structure of copper that is prone to corrosion. This can lead to failure of the fitting over time.
2. **Water Chemistry**: Water with high chlorine or chloramine content can accelerate corrosion in brass fittings. These chemicals are often used to treat municipal water, and they react with brass to weaken its structure over time.
3. **Electrolysis (Galvanic Corrosion)**: Brass fittings can also corrode when they come into contact with dissimilar metals in the plumbing system, such as copper or steel. This creates a galvanic reaction, where one metal corrodes faster in the presence of the other, especially if the system contains an electrolyte like water.
4. **Poor Quality Brass**: Low-quality or improperly manufactured brass fittings may contain higher zinc content or other impurities, making them more susceptible to corrosion.
To minimize corrosion, using high-quality, dezincification-resistant (DZR) brass or fittings made from alternative materials like stainless steel or plastic can help ensure longer-lasting plumbing systems.
Ninghai Hongxiang Copper Industry Co.,Ltd. is an ISO9001 certified manufacturer located in Ningbo city of Zhejiang, which has been designing and producing brass valves and fittings for more than 25 years. Our products range includes brass ball valve, brass bibcock, brass check valve, brass gate valve, brass stop valve, brass anglel valve, bronze valves. We also produce different kinds of brass fittings and parts, like Pex-al-pex fitting, PPR insert fitting, brass Compression fitting and brass press fitting, ect.
Visit our website at https://www.hxcopper.com/ to learn more about our products. For inquiries, you can reach us at sales1@hxcopper.com.
