Dezincification of brass is a form of selective corrosion that happens when zinc is leached out of the alloy leaving a relatively porous copper structure. This damage mechanism has reviewed extensive treatment in the metallurgical literature. Because of the lost zinc and the porosity of the remaining layer of copper, dezincified brass has a lower density than the originating brass. This feature facilitates the use of radiography for identification of the dezincified areas that can be followed by metallography and SEM for further investigation. This paper describes the application of digital radiography for finding dezincified areas and developing a procedure for this technique. It also highlights the advantages of using digital XRay as a cost and time saving tool for failure analysis.

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