The Atmospheric Sulfidation of Copper Single Crystals

Abstract

The oxidation of copper single crystals is known to proceed at different rates on different crystal faces. To determine whether this behavior extends to subsequent atmospheric sulfidation as well, we have exposed polycrystalline copper and (100), (110), and (111) single crystals of copper to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in high humidity air. For short exposures, all of the single crystals sulfidize much more slowly than does polycrystalline copper. In each case, Cu2S is the predominant sulfur species formed. As with oxide formation on copper single crystals, there is a slight tendency for the (111) face to be the most inert. For long exposures, the sulfide film on the single‐crystal samples increases to become essentially equal to that on polycrystalline copper. We envision a corrosion process initially controlled by grain boundary diffusion (and thus the degree of crystallinity of the underlying oxide), followed by a transition to a regime in which the diffusion of copper ions through Cu2S limits the growth of the corrosion film.

Microstructural Development of Copper Sulfide on Copper Exposed to Humid H[sub 2]S

“…Despite the beneficial properties of copper, it is well known that it is thermodynamically unstable and readily develops a copper oxide film in the surface after the initial exposure to the environment, which is metallurgically and chemically complex. [1][2][3][4][5] Initially oxygen and water react with a fresh copper surface, forming cuprite Cu 2 O as the main corrosion product. Following the introduction of common pollutants such as SO 2 , NO 2 , Cl, and H 2 S, several different patina compounds form on top of the initial cuprite layer.…”

Study on Surface Properties of Unalloyed Copper Implanted with Different Transition Metal ions

“…Pure copper usually has no obvious corrosion tendency, but it will be seriously corroded in Oxygenated water, oxidizing acids and seawater in the marine atmosphere [2][3][4]. Therefore, in recent years, people have improved the corrosion resistance of copper through various surface treatment methods.…”

Characterisation of corrosion products formed on copper exposed at indoor and outdoor sites with high H2S concentrations

“…Although many laboratory studies have been made of atmospheric copper corrosion in an environment with a high concentration of corrosive gases, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] few have focused on corrosion behaviour in an actual environment with a high H 2 S concentration. 23 In the study reported here, we investigated atmospheric corrosion of copper exposed indoors and outdoors in a hot springs area.…”