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Appendix 8: Galvanic Series

The galvanic series shown below was taken from Singley (1988). The most noble (least reactive) metals are shown at the top of the table with the least noble (most reactive) at the bottom. To determine which metal will corrode and which will be protected when two dissimilar metals come into contact, the metals’ positions in the series must be noted. The most noble metal (highest in the series) will be protected while the least noble will corrode. For example if aluminium bronze was in contact with lead, in the presence of moisture and oxygen, then the lead would corrode and the aluminium bronze would be protected.

Most noble (least reactive) platinum
  gold
  graphite
  titanium
  silver
  stainless steel (passive)
  Monel
  nickel (passive)
  leaded tin bronze
  copper nickel (30 %)
  silicon bronze
  copper
  red brass
  aluminium bronze
  admiralty brass
  yellow cartridge brass
  nickel (active)
  naval brass
  manganese bronze
  Muntz metal
  tin
  lead
  stainless steel (active)
  lead-tin solder
  high nickel cast iron
  cast iron
  wrought iron
  low carbon steel
  aluminium
  galvanised steel and wrought iron
  zinc
Least noble (most reactive) magnesium

Reference

Singley, K., 1988, The Conservation of Archaeological Artifacts from Freshwater Environments, Lake Michigan Maritime Museum, Michigan, p. 30.