Metallographic Comparison of Copper and Brass Plasma Reactor Electrodes After a Month of Operation

Many researchers from around the world are looking for better and cheaper means of ozone production. One of the methods of increasing the efficiency of ozone production is the use of a rotating electrode presented in this paper. Experiments were carried out which showed that the most important parameters are the materials used in the electrodes and the condition of their surface. The metallographic investigations of the electrodes after continuous work for a month were made, which show how the raids layers are formed. As a result of working in a highly oxidizing environment, the electrode is oxidized in a process of chemical corrosion. It is obvious that the layer of corrosion products created during the work of the plasma reactor isolates the surface of the electrode, which reduces the intensity of the electric field, causing a decrease in the amount of plasma generated, which reduces the concentration of ozone during this process. The dynamics of the plasma generation process and the type of electrode material working in changing process conditions are the decisive factors influencing the concentration of ozone produced. The influence of the medium, which is the electrode material, depends mainly on its resistance to corrosion in the environment of dynamically changing conditions, e.g. electrode rotation, oxygen flow through the rotating electric field and the month-long working time of the plasma reactor.