A Study on Corrosion Resistance of Copper Alloy Nets for the Fish Cages

In offshore cage aquaculture, biofouling on synthetic fiber nets increases load and obstructs water flow, leading to reduced operational efficiency. To address this issue, research on replacing traditional synthetic fiber nets with copper alloy nets has been actively conducted. In this study, the corrosion resistance of two types of copper alloy nets(A, B) was evaluated through cyclic corrosion tests, immersion corrosion tests, and leaching tests. The results showed that copper alloy net(B) exhibited higher corrosion resistance in the cyclic corrosion test but had a greater mass loss in the immersion corrosion test, indicating that corrosion resistance varies depending on the environmental conditions. Both nets underwent uniform corrosion without pitting or cracking, and the leaching test revealed high concentrations of Ni, Cu, and Zn.<br/>This study provides fundamental data for the practical application of brass nets in offshore aquaculture cages, highlighting the need for further research on corrosion resistance improvements and environmental impact assessments.