Applied Materials, Inc.
Methods and apparatus for detecting corrosion of conductive objects

Abstract:

A method for detecting corrosion on a conductive object includes submerging a surface of the conductive object at least partially in an aqueous solution, flowing current through the surface of the conductive object by forming a voltage differential across the surface, varying the voltage differential across the surface while monitoring the current through the surface of the conductive object, determining a total charge corresponding to a corrosion level of the surface of the conductive object based on current versus voltage levels. The corrosion level may further be utilized in selecting a cleaning process to remediate the corrosion of the surface based on the corrosion level and in applying a protective corrosion barrier to on at least part of the surface after the cleaning process.