Characterization of corrosion products on a copper-containing intrauterine device during storage at room temperature.

This paper studies the characterization of corrosion products formed on corroded and uncorroded copper-containing intrauterine devices stored at room temperature for a period of 30 months. The experimental techniques used were X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. The compounds found were cuprite (Cu2O) and tenorite (CuO). The latter was the main compound formed on corroded samples, forming thin tarnish films.