Oxidizing mechanism of beryllium–copper in alkaline solution

Abstract

The growth process of oxide layer on the surface of beryllium–copper (BeCu) has been studied. The alkaline solution contained 15 wt.% sodium chlorite and 15 wt.% sodium hydroxide was used to form the oxide layer at 90 °C. CuO and Cu 2O are produced on the BeCu surface. First, Cu 2O layer formed on the BeCu surface only by soaking for 1 s and the formation of Cu 2O approaches a constant rate at 60 s. The beryllium atoms are escape from the surface and concentration of beryllium in the Cu 2O layer is three folds of magnitude less than that in the bulk BeCu. CuO, which are needle-like structures, are grown in the micro-pores appeared on the Cu 2O layer. After few minutes, the BeCu surface was covered with CuO.