Study of the deterioration of zinc and copper in different environments of Lithuania

Albinas Lugauskas; Gedvidas  Bikulčius; Dalia Bučinskienė; Aušra Selskienė; Vidas Pakštas; Elena Binkauskienė

doi:10.6001/chemija.2015.26.4.1

Albinas Lugauskas
Gedvidas Bikulčius
Dalia Bučinskienė
Aušra Selskienė
Vidas Pakštas
Elena Binkauskienė

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6001/chemija.2015.26.4.1

Keywords: zinc, copper, deterioration, microanalysis, mycobiota

Abstract

Investigation of zinc and copper deterioration after 10-year exposure in different environmental sites (rural, marine, industrial) of Lithuania has been completed. Different survival of mycobial communities on corroded zinc and copper at the end of ten-year experiment has been identified. Morphological and structural changes of the surface were evaluated using optical, scanning electron, X-ray diffraction microscopy and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The atmospheric corrosion level was determined using the weight loss method. The lowest destruction level of copper samples exposed to industrial environment has been established. Zinc samples indicated the crystalline phases of the zinc base, Zn4CO3(OH)6 · H2O, ZnSO4 · 3Zn(OH)2 and Zn5(OH)8Cl2 · H2O. The presence of ZnO and Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 in some sites was detected. Copper samples contained Cu2O and the crystalline copper phases. In some sites (Cu, Zn)2Cl(OH)3, Cu2Cl(OH)3, Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 and traces of disordered Na(Si3Al)O8 were detected.