X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY AND ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE INTERACTION OF POTASSIUM ETHYL XANTHATE WITH METALLIC COPPER

The adsorption of ethyl xanthate on copper specimens from moderately a lkaline aqueous solutions has been studied combining polarization and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data. It was possible to derive stru ctural information about the surface layers originated by either spont aneous adsorption or electrochemical anodization of the metal. Anodiza tion of the metal in ethyl xanthate-containing solutions originates a surface highly resistant to the corrosive attack by chloride ions. XPS data suggest that copper protection is achieved through the growth of a cuprous diethyl dixanthogen layer on the metal in which the oxidati on state +1 of copper becomes stabilized.