The use of prompt nuclear reactions and resonant alpha scattering in the study of α and β brass oxidation

Abstract

The prompt nuclear reaction 16O(d,p 1) 17O and the resonant alpha backscattering 16O(α,α) 16O spectroscopies are used for the measurement of the oxide layer thickness on brass; these methods are subjected to a critical comparison. The study of α and β phase brass oxidation between 293 and 673 K shows clearly the phase and sample treatments dependence. An inversion of the oxidation reactivity between the α and β phase is observed at about 523 K.