New report from Micans investigates how hydrogen gas is emitted from copper

2015-03-31

A new report from Micans investigates how hydrogen gas is emitted from copper. Copper has been suggested to corrode in oxygen-free, pure water in the absence of other components that generally is needed for copper corrosion. In the research that has led to this conclusion the scientists have used stainless steel chambers with glass insertions where the copper have been exposed to oxygen-free water

A mass spectrometer was coupled to the chamber via a palladium membrane and was used to analyse hydrogen gas emission which was believed to be coupled to a copper corrosion process. An alternative method to study hydrogen production from copper in oxygen-free water was developed by Micans during 2012 and was reported during 2013. In the method copper pieces is placed in water filled glass tubes which are sealed with butyl rubber stoppers. The hydrogen production is analysed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a detector with very high sensitivity for hydrogen and oxygen. Here we report results from continuous measurements from previous described and reported experiments as well as results from new experiments that started during 2013 and 2014.

Read more in our report: SKB Technical Report TR-15-03

Gas exchange in tubes with copper pieces that will be investigated. Photo: Micans