The brass material of the piston water meter may indeed rust or be subject to other forms of corrosion during long-term use, but compared with other metal materials, brass has relatively good corrosion resistance.
Rust: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. The presence of zinc improves the corrosion resistance of brass. However, if brass is exposed to a moist, oxygen-rich environment for a long time, or comes into contact with air or water containing corrosive substances such as sulfides and chlorides, a thin oxide film may form on its surface. This is often referred to as "rust". However, it should be noted that this kind of rust is different in nature from iron rust. The "rust" of brass is usually a more stable compound and will not peel off and expand as quickly as rust.
Other forms of corrosion: Brass may also be subject to other forms of corrosion, such as uniform corrosion, pitting corrosion, intergranular corrosion, etc. Uniform corrosion is when the brass surface corrodes evenly over the entire exposed area, causing the metal to gradually thin. Pitting corrosion is the appearance of small and deep corrosion pits in local areas of the brass surface. Intergranular corrosion is corrosion that develops along the grain boundaries of brass, causing the metal to lose strength and toughness.
Factors affecting corrosion: The degree of corrosion of brass is affected by many factors, including the chemical composition, microstructure, use environment (such as temperature, humidity, concentration of corrosive substances, etc.) and the surface treatment of brass products. For example, the higher the zinc content in brass, the more corrosion-resistant it is generally. In addition, surface treatment of brass products (such as polishing, electroplating, etc.) can also improve its corrosion resistance.
Measures to prevent corrosion: In order to extend the service life of brass products, some preventive measures can be taken to reduce the occurrence of corrosion. First, keep brass products dry and clean to avoid prolonged exposure to moist, corrosive-rich environments. Secondly, for brass products that need to be stored for a long time, a layer of protective wax or varnish can be applied to the surface to isolate air and moisture. In addition, avoid using corrosive substances such as strong acids and alkalis to clean brass products to avoid damage to them.
In short, although brass materials may rust or be subject to other forms of corrosion during long-term use, by understanding its corrosion mechanisms and influencing factors, and taking appropriate preventive measures, the incidence and extent of corrosion can be significantly reduced.