Corrosion of copper in aqueous lithium bromide concentrated solutions by immersion testing

• Published in: Corrosion (Houston, Tex.) Tex.), 2006-11, Vol.62 (11), p.1018-1027
• Main Authors: MUNOZ-PORTERO, M. J, GARCIA-ANTON, J, GUINON, J. L, PEREZ-HERRANZ, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Copper; Copper bromide; Copper compounds; Corrosion; Corrosion environments; Corrosion mechanisms; Corrosion products; Corrosion rate; Corrosion tests; Electron microscopy; Exact sciences and technology; Exposure; Hydroxides; Immersion; Immersion tests (corrosion); Lithium; Metals. Metallurgy; Morphology; Polarography; Room temperature; Scanning electron microscopy; Temperature; Testing; Weight loss
• ISSN: 0010-9312; 1938-159X
• DOI: 10.5006/1.3278229

The corrosion rate of copper produced by lithium bromide (LiBr) concentrated solutions of 400 g/L and 700 g/L (4.61 M and 8.06 M) at room temperature, 70°C, and 110°C was studied using immersion testing. The corroded copper concentration was determined with two techniques: weight loss and differential pulse polarography (DPP50). Corrosion of copper at room temperature and 70°C followed a power tendency with exposure time, whereas at 110°C it followed a linear tendency for short exposure times, remaining practically constant for long exposure times. The corrosion product was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion product formed in 400-g/L LiBr solutions presented a crystalline and granular morphology, associated with a mixture of copper bromide (CuBr) and copper(II) oxide-copper(II) hydroxide (CuO-Cu[OH]2). However, the corrosion product formed in 700-g/L LiBr solutions presented a gelatinous and amorphous morphology, associated with a mixture of CuBr and copper trioxy-bromide (CuBr2·3Cu[OH]2).