Communication—A Method to Measure Extremely Low Corrosion Rates of Copper Metal in Anoxic Aqueous Media

Abstract

In some anoxic aqueous environments, especially in underground nuclear waste repositories, the thermodynamic stability of copper is disputed. This communication presents how a highly sensitive H2 detector may be used to define an upper bound of the rate of copper corrosion in anoxic aqueous media. Preliminary results are shown for pure water and 0.25–5.0 mol kg−1 NaCl solutions at 30 – 75°C. The results are interpreted to provide maximum corrosion rates to directly support safety assessments for geological repository designs around the world.