The use of benzotriazole as a corrosion inhibitor for copper

Abstract

Benzotriazole is a specific corrosion inhibitor for copper and copper alloys. It is now widely used in industry to reduce the corrosion of these alloys under both atmospheric and immersed conditions. Corrosion of copper may produce a surface stain or tarnish, pitting of surfaces of pipes or promote pitting of other metals, such as aluminium, which are in contact with dissolved copper in the water. Benzotriazole is used to reduce these forms of attack and the methods by which it is applied are discussed in this paper.