Effect of O₂ on copper-water vapor interaction near critical point

A significant weight loss of copper plate was observed after copper-water vapor interaction near critical point. This leads to the acceleration of the ceramic layer formation on SUS surface during granite-water vapor interaction in the presence of copper. In this paper, we have determined the chemical state of copper at which the mass transfer takes place through reaction with H ₂ and O₂+N₂ gas mixture at the different O ₂ amount. Obtained results indicate that the weight loss of copper plate occurs at Cu₂O (+1) state due to a complex processes. The morphology of copper species on the surface of mesh and granite suggests that the Cu₂O was dissolved in water vapor and recrystallized on the surface of mesh and granite. Copper species were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX).