METHOD OF REDUCING ELUTION OF LEAD IN LEAD-CONTAINING COPPER ALLOY, AND CITY WATER SERVICE FITTINGS MADE OF LEAD-CONTAINING COPPER ALLOY

摘要

A processing method for preventing elution of lead in a lead-containing copper alloy for preventing elution of lead from faucet metals, etc., made of a lead-containing copper alloy, and a city water service fitting made of a lead-containing copper alloy for preventing elution of lead. Elution of lead remaining in a limited amount on the surface of a lead-containing copper alloy material can be prevented by forming a chromate film on this surface. The city water service fitting made of the lead-containing copper alloy is immersed in an alkaline etching solution in a pre-processing step of a nickel chromium plating step to selectively remove lead on the surface of the lead-containing copper alloy material and is then activated in a solution such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. Nickel plating is subsequently effected, and then chromium plating is effected in a sargent chromium or chromium fluoride bath, and a chromate film can be formed by immersing the city water service fitting in a chromate solution.