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.