Heat transfer to metals in low pressure oxygen plasma:: application to oxidation of the 90Cu-10Zn alloy

A low pressure inductively coupled oxygen plasma was used to oxidize the surface of a-brass (90Cu-10Zn) foils. Electrochemical and optical (i.e, W-Vis-Nir diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and FTIR) investigation techniques show that the oxide layer initially formed on chemically cleaned samples mainly involve the copper oxides; the initial oxide layer was formed in majority by copper oxides Cu2O and CuO. When the CuO layer is extensively grown, a ZnO layer begins growing together with CuO. The thickness and composition of the oxide films formed at the surface are governed by matter and energy transfers between the plasma and brass surface. The influence of the reactor working parameters is also considered. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.