OPTICAL DETERMINATION OF CUPROUS-OXIDE AT ZINC-OXIDE METAL INTERFACE OF AN OXIDIZED ALPHA-BRASS

During brass oxidation, a copper diffusion is observed at the zinc oxi de/metal interface, in the case of high temperature oxidation (T > 400 -degrees-C). Optical methods like FTIR and photoluminescence are used to characterize the oxidized form of copper located at metal-oxide int erface. Detection of the vibrational transverse mode at 610 cm-1 and l uminescence emissions attributed to copper and oxygen vacancies allow the characterization of copper oxidized form (copper I oxides) located at metal/oxide interface in agreement with SIMS results. But, the dis placement reaction (Cu2O + Zn --> 2 Cu + ZnO) could also occur accordi ng to thermodynamic data; so, the copper is in the oxidized form and e ventually metallic.