Selective deleading process and bath for plumbing components made of a copper alloy

摘要

The present invention relates to a selective deleading process for plumbing components made of a lead-containing copper alloy by means of a traditional pickling during which, before the finishing step, the treated and washed components are dipped into a bath containing at least one carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acrylic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. The present invention also relates to the selective deleading bath containing said at least one carboxylic acid. The process and the bath enable the thorough elimination of the lead which is located on the surface of said components, without in the meantime altering the ratios existing among the other metals forming the alloys.