Influence of corrosion scales on copper corrosion by-product release

Based on a literature study and experiments the copper corrosion mechanism is subdivided into three processes: copper oxidation, deposition of corrosion by-products, and establishment of a solubility equilibrium. This approach is applied to explain the results of a study on the influence of temperature on copper dissolution and deposition of copper corrosion by-products. Changes in water quality are monitored by regular sampling, qualitative and quantitative changes of surface layers are studied using computer-supported light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.