Qiu P, Leygraf C. Initial oxidation of brass induced by humidified air.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE 2011;
258:1235-1241. [PMID:
23471205 PMCID:
PMC3587402 DOI:
10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.09.080]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2011] [Revised: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Complementary surface and near-surface analytical techniques have been used to explore a brass (Cu-20Zn) surface before, during, and after exposure in air at 90% relative humidity. Volta potential variations along the unexposed surface are attributed to variations in surface composition and resulted in an accelerated localized growth of ZnO and a retarded more uniform growth of an amorphous Cu2O-like oxide. After 3 days the duplex oxide has a total mass of 1.3 μg/cm2, with improved corrosion protective properties compared to the oxides grown on pure Cu or Zn. A schematic model for the duplex oxide growth on brass is presented.
Collapse