1,3,4-thiadiazole bisdisulfides inhibit copper corrosion by active sul
fur in lubricating oils. They react with active sulfur to yield inacti
ve trisulfides as determined by Raman spectroscopy and Mass spectrosco
py (MS). The thiadiazole bisdisulfide also reacts to form a protective
film on the surface of a copper strip. Surface analytical techniques
applied to the copper surface show that an organic film is formed chem
ically, in which the thiadiazole ring remains.