[Harp-L] RE: Do Harmonicas Rust?

[Ray Beltran <raybeltran@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

One of my students is a "melter", working with (and melting) metals  
for the government.

Regarding rust, this is what he has told me:

"ALL metals  form oxides, carbonates (to us rust). Ok here is how it  
works Brass is an alloy, so there is no way to make it homogenous. The  
nonuniform locations in the metal create areas where the metal is more  
easily oxidized (rusted) than it is at other areas. Now water is on  
the surface (condensed from air or spit) of the metal, into which  
carbon dioxide will dissolve to form a weak carbonic acid. In this  
example of Brass, Zinc is more reactive than Copper, so Zinc ions are  
formed first, which react with hydroxide ions of the water to form  
Zinc hydroxide that in turn reacting with carbon dioxide (dissolved in  
the water) to form Zinc carbonate, which forms a film on the surface  
of the Brass. Now this is only the Zinc, all the other elements of  
Brass have there own path to do this."

Hope this helps.

Ray.

--
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> >>> "Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> 1/22/2010 6:18 PM >>>

> Reeds and reedplates are made of brass or phosphor bronze and do not  
> rust.
>
> However, the rivets that fasten the reeds to the plates are made of  
> steel that can rust. Also, some overs and other metal marts may be  
> made of steel that will rust. Steel parts may be plated with chrome  
> or nickel, but if this wears away, again the steel can rust.
>
> Some harmonicas have stainless steel covers, which do not rust.
>
> Winslow Yerxa
>
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>
> --- On Fri, 1/22/10, Leonidas Galanis <thebuzzgr@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> From: Leonidas Galanis <thebuzzgr@xxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Do harmonicas rust?
> To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Friday, January 22, 2010, 5:58 PM