Oxidation Kinetics of Cu Alloys Containing Alkaline Earth Metals at Low Temperature

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2021 Mar 1;21(3):2071-2074. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2021.18947.

Abstract

In this study, the oxidation behavior of Cu alloys containing two alkaline earth metals (i.e., Mg and Ca) at 500 °C was investigated. The Mg+Mg₂Ca master alloy was used for the simultaneous addition of Mg and Ca into Cu. As a result of the oxidation test, all examined samples showed weight gains that followed parabolic laws. Mg addition in Cu considerably slowed down the oxidation rate, while the use of the Mg+Mg₂Ca master alloy as an alloying element for Mg led to an even further reduction in the oxidation rates at the testing temperature. The phase diagrams with the oxygen partial pressure showed that the Ca and Mg-containing alloy resulted in the formation of CaO as the primary oxide and MgO as the secondary oxide. The improved oxidation resistance can be attributed to the mixed surface layer of CaO and MgO, which control the growth rate of Cu₂O.