Weld Aged Naval Bronze

[HumbleServant]

I'm considering welding a naval bronze strut on a 40-year-old sailboat. Probably a quarter of that time it has been in salt water continuously. Would welding be recommended or would there be inbrittlement? I am concerned about migration of some of the constituents over time.
Dan
dkidd@fairpoint.net

 

[TugboatEng]

If it's brass you may have experienced dezincification. Bronze, on the other hand, has very little zinc and it's properties should not change over time. Bronzes are usually readily weldable.

 

[EdStainless]

In either case you would be grinding to sound clean metal before welding so it should work fine.
Just remember, clean, clean, clean.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[blacksmith37]

I am finding "leaded red brass" , or "ounce metal" , 85-5-5-5, for Navel bronze. Copper Development Assn ( 1978) , says do not weld; use brazing. Dezincification occurs in high zinc alloys like Admiralty metal ( 69-30-1). De-nickelification occurs rarely in nickel aluminum bronze ( very different from ounce metal). So it is fairly safe to say you do not have any elemental leaching.

 

Just because dezincification can happen does not mean it will happen

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."