Intellectual Property Office

Non-Confidential Disclosures

"A Highly Efficient Inhibitor of Copper Corrosion in Aqueous Media"

PSU Inv. Disc. No 1162

Field of the Invention:

Copper corrosion in acidic solutions

Inventors:

H. W. Pickering, et al.

Background:

Two researchers at The Pennsylvania State University's Department of Material Science and Engineering have invented a novel inhibitor that has a high efficiency to prevent copper corrosion in acidic solutions and in acidified neutral solutions and atmospheres.

Invention description:

The inventors have demonstrated that this invention significantly decreases the corrosion rate of copper in sulfuric acid of pH0 and pH3 and also in neutral saltwater in comparison to BTA using electrochemical studies and weight loss tests. The inventors have also demonstrated that the stability of the protective film that forms on the copper using the invention is improved over that which forms in BTA. Thus, the inhibitor film, once formed, protects the copper surface from attack by (inhibitor-free) corrosives for a longer time, thereby providing more time for the natural protective film to form. This characteristic (stability) is very important, e.g., for copper pipes used to transport potable water. The invention's mechanism is based on the formation of a thick inhibitor film complex which greatly depresses the anodic (copper) dissolution reaction. A polarization curve of copper in the presence of the inhibitor shows that the inhibitor prevents copper corrosion in a very wide range of electrode potential and thus can be used in different environments.

Contact:

Mr. Matthew Smith
Sr. Technology Licensing Officer
Intellectual Property Office
113 Technology Center
The Pennsylvania State Univ.
University Park, PA 16802-7000
Phone: (814) 863-1122
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: mds126@psu.edu