Abstract
The composition and structure of corrosion products formed on copper in phosphate solution were studied by sensitive ESCA, electron microscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. In an initial stage of corrosion, the product was mainly composed of cuprous oxide with a small amount of cupric compound and, the final product was an anhydrous and/or hydrous cupric complex such as Cu3(PO4)2 or Cu3(PO4)2·3H2O. This cupric compound was a bluish well developed crystal in the shape of plate. In phosphate solutions of pH less than 6.7, corrosion pits were observed in the copper specimens.
