Preparation and characterization of thin oxides films formed at a brass surface oxidized by plasma treatment

The surface of a 90Cu10Zn alloy exposed to a low pressure inductively coupled oxygen plasma gives rise to an oxide layer, the composition of which is determined by FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The thickness of the oxide layer depends on the time of exposure to the plasma and on the distance between the sample and the first high voltage (HV) coil for given primary treatment parameters and on the preparation technique of the samples.