Influence of pH and oxygen on copper corrosion in simulated uterine fluid

This paper studies the copper corrosion in simulated uterine fluids in the presence of urea and/or albumin, at pH 5.0, 6.3 and 8.0, with 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 atmospheres of oxygen pressure and without additional oxygen pressure, at 37°C temperature, and for 1, 3, 7, 15, 21 and 30 days experimentation. The copper dissolution rate was determined using absorbance measurements. Copper dissolution was the highest at pH 8.0 and 0.20 atmospheres of oxygen pressure, 674 μg d−1 for 1 day and 109 μg d−1 for 30 days. The presence of albumin, contrary to urea, accelerates copper corrosion.