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U.S. Department of Energy
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A novel technique to studying the effect of a VCI

Conference ·
OSTI ID:697082
 [1]
  1. Condition`s Inc., St. Paul, MN (United States)
An investigation of accelerated atmospheric corrosion of copper by using a four-point-probe method and the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is described. An aggressive atmosphere containing 100 ppm of H{sub 2}S and a relative humidity (RH) above 80% was used to accelerate the corrosion process under a controlled environment. The test consisted of two containers testing, in triplicate, 25{micro}m thick copper wire. The inhibited samples showed less increases in the measured voltage than the specimens not inhibited. The decrease in the voltage could be correlated to the corrosion rate and the efficacy of the VCI. The SEM images revealed different surface changes in the oxide formation on the protected and non-protected copper surface. The authors expect that this test presents a possible alternative to existing test methods, i.e. Japanese and German based on the commonly used Federal Test Method 4031, 101C a.k.a. Vapor Inhibiting Ability of VCI Vapors (VIA). Both the VIA test and this test are quite simple to conduct, however, quantitatively which is not possible with the VIA.
OSTI ID:
697082
Report Number(s):
CONF-990401--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English