An investigation of the thermal stability of undecylimidazole on copper by FT-IR reflection-absorption spectroscopy

The thermal stability of a 150 nm thick undecylimidazole layer on a copper surface has been studied by Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS). The reaction between undecylimidazole which is used as a corrosion inhibitor, and copper is studied as a function of heating conditions. Cleavage of the imidazole ring and structure of the progressive degradation of the decomposition products are proposed.