Abstract:The atmospheric corrosion behavior of pure copper exposed for three years in Turpan, China, which is a typical hot and dry atmosphere environment, was investigated using mass-loss tests, morphology observations, composition analyses, and electrochemical techniques. The results indicated that the annual corrosion rate of pure copper was approximately 2.90 μm/a. An uneven distribution of corrosion products was observed by scanning electron microscopy; this uneven distribution was attributed to the dehydration process during wet–dry and cold–hot cycles, and the compositions mainly consisted of cuprite (Cu₂O) and atacamite (Cu₂Cl(OH)₃). Electrochemical measurements showed that deposits on copper improved its resistance to corrosion and the protectiveness decreased with increasing temperature. On the other hand, results obtained using the scanning vibrating electrode technique showed that the porous and uneven structure of the deposit layer generated a spatial separation of cathodic and anodic reaction sites, which accelerated the corrosion process in wet and rainy weather.

Key words: copper; atmospheric corrosion; composition analysis; electrochemical technology