Corrosion Products Formed on Silver and Copper Plates Exposed in a Volcanic Area

Silver and copper are widely used in electronic parts and devices because of their good electrical properties. While their corrosion rates in a benign environment are generally low, silver easily tarnishes when reduced sulfur such as hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide are present in the atmosphere, forming silver sulfide (Ag2S). Since our telecommunication equipment is composed of many electronic parts and devices containing these metals, understanding the corrosion behavior of these metals is important for preventing equipment failure due to corrosion.