Copper tube is generally used in water supplying systems, however the copper tube rarely suffers from Type I pitting-corrosion. In this study, the effect of free carbon dioxide (CO
2 (
aq.)) on the copper-corrosion behavior was examined.
Copper specimens were immersed in simulated tap-waters in atmospheres of 79%N
2-21%O
2, 78.8%N
2-21%O
2-0.2%CO
2, 77%N
2-21%O
2-2%CO
2 and 59%N
2-39%O
2-2%CO
2 (artificial airs). The concentrations of CO
2 (
aq.) and dissolved oxygen (DO) in the waters were changed by these methods. After the immersion tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were carried out. The electrochemical parameters were determined by curve fitting after EIS.
The pHs of waters were constant in 78.8%N
2-21%O
2-0.2%CO
2, 77%N
2-21%O
2-2%CO
2 and 59%N
2-39%O
2-2%CO
2 throughout the immersion tests. Generally, H
+ is consumed for reduction of DO with oxidation of copper. On the other hand, H
+ is supplied by CO
2 (
aq.) and H
2O as follows.
CO
2 (
aq.)+H
2O↔H
2CO
3H
2CO
3↔HCO
3-+H
+It is considered that the concentration of CO
2 (
aq.) and pH are held constant when the partial pressure of CO
2 gas is constant. The values of charge-transfer resistance and Warburg impedance decreased with the increasing partial pressure of CO
2 gas and/or O
2 gas. Consequently, the copper-corrosion rate increased with the concentrations of CO
2 (
aq.) and/or DO in the water. H
+ was supplied by CO
2 (
aq.) and H
2O. H
+ might assist the reduction of DO to promote the oxidation of copper as follows.
O
2+4H
++4e
-→2H
2O
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