The Effect of Oxygen on the Inhibition of Copper Corrosion with Benzotriazole

Abstract

The inhibition of copper corrosion by benzotriazole (BTAH) has been studied by scanning electrochemical microscopy as a function of time and oxygen content. Under normal atmospheric conditions the inhibiting [Cu(I)-BTA] film was formed in approximately . When the oxygen content was lowered below , an insulating film could not be obtained in , clearly showing that the formation of the inhibiting [Cu(I)-BTA] requires oxygen.