GILDES Model Simulations of the Atmospheric Corrosion of Copper Induced by Low Concentrations of Carboxylic Acids

• A computer simulation with a GILDES-based model using the COMSOL multiphysics software was performed for copper exposedto low concentrations of carboxylic acids in humidified air at room temperature. GILDES is a six-regime computer model (Gas,the Interface between gas and liquid, the Liquid, the Deposition layer, the Electrodic region near the surface and the Solid). Thesimulations were compared to previously published in-situ results for copper at the same conditions analysed by a quartz crystalmicrobalance (QCM) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). Experimental and calculated results agree with eachother with respect to the effect of corrosion, showing formic acid as the most aggressive followed by acetic and propionic acid.This is supported by a higher ligand- and proton-promoted dissolution found in formic acid exposures, followed by acetic andpropionic exposures. The dominating precipitated phases were Cu2O, Cu(OH)2, Cu(CH3COO)2 · H2O, Cu(HCOO)2 · 4H2O andCu(CH3CH2COO)2 · H2O. Besides Cu2O, the simulations suggest that the hydrated form of the respective carboxylates is the mostlikely compound to be formed in this type of atmospheres.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Korrosionsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Corrosion Engineering (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

GILDES

modeling

copper

atmospheric corrosion

carboxylic acids

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)