Does copper oxidation have any impact on cooling performance?

May 31, 2014 | Maintenance | Niko Tivadar
Share on social:

Copper does not react with water, but it slowly reacts with atmospheric oxygen, forming a layer of brown-black copper oxide. In contrast to the oxidation of iron by wet air, this oxide layer stops further, bulk corrosion. A green layer of verdigris (copper carbonate) can often be seen on old copper constructions. Water cooling equipment (such as water block) usually tarnishes when exposed to sulfides, which react with it to form various copper sulfides.

Tarnished copper looks discouraging, but has no measurable performance impact on performance as the oxidation layer is too thin to have any effect on thermal conductivity.

copper_oxidation

Photo above illustrates oxidized water block copper base (source: overclock.net)

How to avoid?

It is nearly impossible to avoid naturally occurring copper tarnishing (oxidation). It is recommended to use nitrite- or latex gloves during installation as human skin oils are slightly acidic.

Users that do not prefer the looks of tarnished copper are advised to use nickel-plated copper water blocks.

In order to prevent tarnishing on the inside of the water block channels it is highly recommended to balance the pH levels of your coolant. We discourage the use of copper (II) sulfate based coolants (common trade names are Nuke Cu and Biocide Cu) and highly recommend the use of a corrosion- and biological growth inhibiting coolants such as EK-Ekoolant or other market has proven cooling liquids.

32 replies

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. … [Trackback]

    […] Info to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  2. … [Trackback]

    […] Info to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  3. kc9 says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Info here to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  4. dark168 says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] Find More on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  5. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More on to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  6. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  7. pgslot168 says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Info here to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  8. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More on on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  9. cat888 says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] Information to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  10. lottorich28 says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Info here to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  11. Jason says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] There you can find 62692 additional Information on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  12. … [Trackback]

    […] Info on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  13. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  14. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More here on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  15. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More here to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  16. … [Trackback]

    […] Information to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  17. … [Trackback]

    […] There you will find 89153 additional Information to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  18. sex tour 15 says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] Info on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  19. … [Trackback]

    […] There you can find 57378 more Info on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  20. … [Trackback]

    […] Information to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  21. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More here on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  22. … [Trackback]

    […] There you will find 43416 additional Info to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  23. … [Trackback]

    […] Info on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  24. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  25. … [Trackback]

    […] There you will find 22728 additional Info to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  26. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  27. … [Trackback]

    […] Here you can find 3583 more Info on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  28. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  29. pgslot says:

    … [Trackback]

    […] Find More on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  30. … [Trackback]

    […] Information to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  31. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Info here to that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

  32. … [Trackback]

    […] Here you will find 42217 more Information on that Topic: ekwb.com/blog/does-copper-oxidation-have-any-impact-on-cooling-performance/ […]

Comments are closed.