Atmospheric corrosion of copper

Rice DW, Peterson P, Rigby EB, Phipps PBP, Capped RJ, Tremoureux R (1981) Atmospheric corrosion of copper and sdver, J Electrochem Soc 128 275-284. 

Although the degree of atmospheric corrosion of copper and its alloys depends upon the corrosive agents present, the corrosion rate has been found to generally decrease with time. The copper and its alloys such as silicon bronze, tin bronze usually corrode at moderate rates, while brass, aluminum bronze, nickel silver, and copper-nickel corrode at a slower rate.51 The most commonly used copper alloys are Cl 1000, C22000, C38500 and C75200. 

A recent laboratory study (1 ) has shown that a combination of NO2 and SOp at 90% RH causes rapid corrosion of copper compared to the influence of the two gases when present alone, see FIG. 6. These results indicate that the synergistic effect of NO and SO may be of importance for atmospheric corrosion of copper outdoors ... 

Costas, L.(1982) Atmospheric corrosion of copper alloys exposed for 15 to 20 years. Atmospheric Corrosion of Metals, ASTM STP 767, American Society for Testing and Materials, 106-115. 

In the realization of a structure or of a plant, we can make use of different metallic materials that, although not in contact and therefore not in galvanic coupling, must cross each other or, in any case, be positioned one above the other. In the case in which the products of the atmospheric corrosion of a material may constitute cathodic reagents for the dissolution of a material onto which they can leach out, the relative positions of the materials (i.e., above or below) are not equivalent from the corrosion point of view this is the case, for example, for the products of the atmospheric corrosion of copper, which can act as a cathodic reagent for the dissolution of iron and especially of zinc. It is therefore preferable that zinc and iron components are located above the copper ones. 

P Eriksson. Effects of SO2 and NO2 on metal surfaces atmospheric corrosion of copper and surface reactions on gold. Thesis, Chalmers, University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden, 1982. 

W. H. J. Vernon, Efifect of sulphur dioxide on the atmospheric corrosion of copper, Trans. Faraday Soc. 27 35 (1933). 

D. W. Rice, R. J. Capped, P. B. P. Phipps, and P. Peterson, Indoor atmospheric corrosion of copper, silver, nickel, cobalt and iron. Atmospheric Corrosion (W. H. Ailor, ed.), Wiley, New York, 1982, p. 651. 

R. E. Lobnig and C. A. Jankoski, Atmospheric corrosion of copper in the presence of acid ammonium sulfate particles, J. Electrochem. Soc. 745 946 (1998). 

J. Tidblad and T. E. Graedel, GILDES model studies of aqueous chemistry III. Initial S02-induced atmospheric corrosion of copper, Corros. Sci. 55 2201 (1996). J. Tidblad and T. E. Graedel, GILDES model studies of aqueous chemistry V. Initial SOj-induced atmospheric corrosion of nickel, J. Electrochem. Soc. 744 2676 (1997). 

Copper Conductors Although precautions are taken to protect the copper conducting lines in printed wiring boards from enviromnental exposure, defects exist and corrosion does occur under many atmospheric conditions. For most environments that are encountered, copper is not thermodynamically stable. However, its native cuprous oxide surfece film does offer some limited protection. Atmospheric corrosion of copper is briefly described in the chapter on atmospheric corrosion. Examples of typical industrial atmospheric pollutants that are harmful to copper include SO2, H S, COS, NO, CI2, and CO2... 

Detailed studies have been imdertaken to explore the initial atmospheric corrosion of copper and zinc induced by particles, including NaCl and (NH4)2S04. They show a complex interplay between gases involved, such as SO2 and CO2, and the droplets around the deposited particles. The composition and lateral distribuhon of the corrosion products turn out to be governed by the location of anodic and cathodic sites, the transport of ions and other species between these sites, the deposition of gases onto the surface, and complicated spreading effects of the droplets formed [99]. 

Zhuo Yuan Chen, The role of particles on initial atmospheric corrosion of copper and zinc— Lateral distribution, secondary spreading and C02-/S02-influence, Doctoral thesis, ISBN 91-7178-155-2, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, 2003. 

S. D. Cramer, S. A. Matthes, B. S. Covino Jr., S. J. Bullard, and G. R. Holcomb, Environmental factors affecting the atmospheric corrosion of copper, ASTM Special Techn. Publ. 1421 245 (2002). I. Odnevall Wallinder, P. Verbiest, W. He, and C. Leygraf, Effects of exposiue direction and inclination of the runoff rates of zinc and copper roofs, Corros. Sci. 42 1471 (2000). 

J. Tidblad and T. E. Graedel, GILDES model studies of aqueous chemistry ill. initial SOj-induced atmospheric corrosion of copper, Corros. Sci. 38 2201 (1996). 

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