Abstract
The corrosion mechanism of copper and copper alloy is reviewed. A number of scientific papers have been investigated to determine the corrosion mechanism and protection techniques of copper and copper alloy corrosion. Results have shown that copper can be corroded in an acidic or an alkaline environment, and oxide formation is the corrosion initiation process. The use of corrosion inhibitors is one of several ways of controlling metal corrosion. There are inorganic (toxic) and organic (green) corrosion inhibitors invented so far. Nowadays, environmental issue is a concern of several scientists in the world. From the results of recent scientific papers, green corrosion inhibitors can be used for copper corrosion protection and they are both economical and environmentally safe. Furthermore, future researches are needed to determine more efficient, environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors for copper and copper alloys.