A comparative study of chemical and physical properties of copper and copper alloys affected by acidic, alkaline and saline environments

Chemical and physical behavior including corrosion performance, thermal conductivity and visual color change of the copper-based alloys brass and bronze have been studied prior and after corrosion in acidic, alkaline and saline media. The concentrations of 0.5 M H2SO4, 0.5 M NaOH and 0.5 M NaCl were used in which copper and copper-alloy samples were immersed and left to corrode at room temperature for 28 days. The experiments were performed prior and after corrosion, using conventional gravimetric measurements accompanied with measurements of thermal conductivity, microstructure and optical properties. The color change of different samples was also studied through tristimulus color parameter (L*, a* and b*) values. It is concluded that the corrosion rate of copper and copper alloys is greater…