Oxidation of Oxygen-Free High Conductivity Copper to Cu[sub 2]O

The effect of oxygen upon the oxidation behavior of OFHC copper was studied under conditions that assured that the involved system is . Oxidation rate was correlated through use of two parallel reaction rates : (a) a diffusion step (resulting in a pressure sensitive parabolic constant, ), and (b) a phase boundary reaction (pressure insensitive). Application of the equation: led to values for n: 950°C, , . Theoretical considerations are outlined to emphasize that surface site saturation will lead to a cessation of the increase in with increased oxygen pressure when the oxygen concentration and adsorption potential are sufficient to accommodate oxygen on all available sites. Photomicrographs of the growth of on are included.