Assessment of aqueous sulfide corrosion on thermally oxidised copper using surface science techniques

The corrosion of copper coatings fabricated by electrodeposition and cold-spray deposition in both a pristine and thermally pre-oxidised state was investigated in sulfide solution. Samples were characterised using electrochemistry, scanning electron microscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. No major differences were identified in the electrochemical measurements or morphology of the surface film between the two copper coatings post experiments. While sulfur (which is presumed to be sulfide) was found to be present in the pre-existing defects within the shallow subsurface of the cold-sprayed copper material, in this short-term testing, sulfide penetration did not occur within the copper metal matrix in electrodeposited or cold-spray copper.