Characterization of corrosion products on a copper-containing intrauterine device during storage at room temperature

This paper studies the characterization of corrosion products formed on corroded and uncorroded copper-containing intrauterine devices stored at room temperature for a period of 30 months. The experimental techniques used were X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. The compounds found were cuprite (Cu2O) and tenorite (CuO). The latter was the main compound formed on corroded samples, forming thin tarnish films. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.