title: Initial oxidation of brass induced by humidified air.
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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surface and Corrosion Science, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Drottning Kristinas väg 51, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Christofer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leygraf
keywords: Atmospheric corrosion; Brass (Cu–20Zn); Cu2O; Humid air; Surface analysis; ZnO