Mixing Aluminum and Copper in a Waterloop - Page 2 - Overclock.net

Syrillian · 12-21-06

Thanks for sharing that. A picture is indeed worth a thousand (argumentative) words. For those of us that are gravitating toward WCing it is a valuable piece of knowledge.

DontPassTheFence · 12-21-06

so wait, if youve got an all shiny copper block, dont use any aluminum fittings/joints? I never knew that... so its all copper or copper+plastics for me, eh?

DuckieHo · 12-21-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xavier1421

I think the right one was used with aluminum...

Haha, now I feel pretty speshul! Having seen your answer...lol

I said the right one because in terms of galvanic corrosion, I would have thought the copper would have been sacrified TO the aluminum, hence the "cleaner" look on the right.

I though galvanic corrosion would have the aluminum going to the copper? Aluminum has a higher anodic index than copper. I believe the aluminum coated the copper a bit unevenly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DontPassTheFence

so wait, if youve got an all shiny copper block, dont use any aluminum fittings/joints? I never knew that... so its all copper or copper+plastics for me, eh?

Yes, do not put copper + aluminum + water together. They will react over time and the aluminum will be eatten away.

DontPassTheFence · 12-21-06

Sweet, I'm learn-ding.

on the info.

fstfrddy · 12-22-06

Are these your blocks? are they both baseplates? the channel pattern is inverted on the two pics, guess it must be late.

There are ways to overcome the effects of corrosion either with additives or with a sacraficial anode in the system. metals are mixed all the time like in a car engines cooling system.

DuckieHo · 12-22-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by fstfrddy

Are these your blocks? are they both baseplates? the channel pattern is inverted on the two pics, guess it must be late.

There are ways to overcome the effects of corrosion either with additives or with a sacraficial anode in the system. metals are mixed all the time like in a car engines cooling system.

Yes, both Danger Den MAZE4CPU blocks are now mine. I received one for free and the other was bought on eBay. Both came quite dirty. One was covered with white algae growth while the other was coated in black substance. I noticed the difference when cleaning them and I asked both users about their loops.

hvacgaspiping · 12-22-06

Aluminum should NEVER be used in a water flowing circuit, because the electrolytic corrosion that results. `Doesn`t matter what other metals are present, except some of the corrosion deposits from the aluminum will coat other metals. That`s why heat exchangers, pumps, water filters and strainers, condensers, boilers, and cooling towers don`t use aluminum in any of their applications.

**ira-k** · 12-22-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvacgaspiping

Aluminum should NEVER be used in a water flowing circuit, because the electrolytic corrosion that results. `Doesn`t matter what other metals are present, except some of the corrosion deposits from the aluminum will coat other metals. That`s why heat exchangers, pumps, water filters and strainers, condensers, boilers, and cooling towers don`t use aluminum in any of their applications.

Thats my under standing of it to...Even anodized aluminum just puts off the inevitable for a short time....

DuckieHo · 12-22-06

What's really crazy is that the shiny block.... you can see still machining marks on the plate. On the aluminum reacted one, those are all gone.

**ira-k** · 12-22-06

What were the aluminum pieces in the loop? I bet they were pretty well pitted....

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Cooling > Water Cooling
Mixing Aluminum and Copper in a Waterloop

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)