The Development of a Laboratory Test to Determine the Mechanisms and Effects of Organic Fluids on Copper Coils

ABSTRACT: Indoor corrosion failures of aluminum-finned copper-tube evaporator coils, and also in some systems without aluminum fins, is a menacing issue in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. Extensive laboratory testing has verified the development of a reproducible screening method to assess suspected contaminants of producing premature failures of copper tube resulting from a very localized form of corrosion known as "formicary corrosion" [a/k/a "ant nest corrosion"]. This paper provides a historical perspective on formicary corrosion and various mechanisms.