Abstract
The effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG 1500) as additive and of deposition conditions on Zn—Cr alloy electrodeposition from an acidic sulfate electrolyte at room temperature, without agitation was investigated. PEG polarizes the overall cathodic reaction and inhibits Zn deposition. Cr codeposition with Zn starts at a cathodic potential of about −1,95 V vs Hg/Hg2SO4, which is reached at current density of about 20 A dm−2 in galvanostatic conditions. Zn—Cr alloy coatings containing up to 28 at % Cr were obtained depending on the plating conditions. SEM observations showed an island-like structure, formed by the local growth of crystals, which covered the surface during further deposition. In the first stages of electrodeposition the powder diffraction spectra contain lines of b.c.c. Γ-(Zn,Cr) phase (a Γ ≈ 3.02 Å). After 30 s deposition time weak lines of Zn-based η phase (a η ≈ 2.67 Å, c η ≈ 4.90 Å) appear, and become clearly visible in coatings deposited for 90 s. The average Cr content in the alloy coatings decreases with advancing deposition. The as-plated surface contains C in organic compounds and Zn(OH)2. After 50 min sputtering, Zn and a mixture of Cr, Cr2O3 and Cr7C3 were found. The presence of organic C and O, probably from inclusions of PEG, were also detected.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. Siegert and J. O'Grady, Metalloberfläche 47 (1993) 378.
V. Leroy, Galvatech '95, 'The Use and Manufacture of Zinc and Zinc Alloy-coated Sheet Steel Products into the 21st Century, Conference Proceedings, Chicago, IL, 17–21 Sept. (1995), p. 279.
Y. Miyoshi, H. Odashima, Y. Shindo, M. Yoshida and T. Kamanaru, Nippon Steel Technical Report No. 57, 16–21 Apr. (1993) p. 16.
T. Ichida, Galvatech '95, op. cit. [2], p. 359.
US Patent 4 877 494, EP 0 285 931 A1, US Patent 4 897 317.
US Patent 5 273 643.
US Patent 5 510 196, EP 0 607 452 A1.
EP 0 638 668 A1.
EP 0 643 157 A1.
US Patent 5 616 232.
A. Takahashi, Y. Miyoshi and T. Hada, J. Electrochem. Soc. 141 (1994) 954.
Russian Patent 328 208.
A. Watson, Y.J. Su, M.R. El-Sharif and C.U. Chisholm, Trans. Inst. Met. Finish. 71(1) (1993) 15.
N.B. Berezin, N.V. Gudin, V.V. Chevela and A.G. Filippova, Zashtita metallov 28(6) (1992) 961.
N.B. Berezin, N.V. Gudin, A.G. Filippova, E.A. Matulenis and Yu. V. Borisov, Zashtita metallov 29(1) (1993) 99.
T. Ohgai, J.S. Ki, T. Akiyama and H. Fukushima, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (1998) 225.
T. Akiyama, S. Kobayashi, J. Ki, T. Ohgai and H. Fukushima, J. Appl. Electrochem. 30 (2000) 817.
M. Hansen and Ê. Anderko, 'Constitution of Binary Alloys', Metallurgizdat, Moscow (1962) p. 605.
M.R. El-Sharif, C.U. Chisholm, Y.J. Sut and L. Feng, 'Advances in Surface Engineering', Vol. 1 (Royal Society of Chemistry, 1997), p. 95.
M. Miyake, T. Hirato, E. Matsubara and Y. Awakura, Second International Conference on 'Processing Materials for Properties', San Francisco, CA, 5–8 Nov. (2000), p. 779.
L. Guzman, M. Adami, W. Gissler, S. Klose and S. De Rossi, Surf. Coat. Technol. 125 (2000) 218.
I.C. Noyan, T.C. Huang and B.R. York, Critical Reviews in Solid State and Mater. Sci. 20(2) (1995) 125.
J.N. Howarth and D. Pletcher, J. Appl. Electrochem. 18 (1988) 644.
T. Pearson and E. Long, Trans. Inst. Metal Finish. 76(6) (1998) B83.
I. Drela, J. Szynkarczyk and J. Kunicki, J. Appl. Electrochem. 19 (1989) 933.
A.M. Smith, A. Watson and D.H. Vaughan, Trans. Inst. Metal Finish. 71(3) (1993) 106.
Zh. Tu, Zh. Yang, J. Zhang, M-Zh. An and W-L. Li, Plat. Surf. Finish. Nov. (1993) 79.
S. Hoshino and G.B. Hoflund, JES 133(4) (1986) 681.
G.B. Hoflund, D.A. Asbury, S.J. Babb, A.L. Grogan, Jr., H.A. Laitinen and S. Hoshino, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 4(1) (1986) 26.
E.N. Lubnin, A.A. Edigaryan and Yu. M. Polukarov, Protection of Metals 36(4) (2000) 301.
V.A. Safonov, L.N. Vykhodtseva, A.A. Edigaryan, A.D. Aliev, E.B. Molodkina, A.I. Danilov, E.N. Lubnin and Yu. M. Polukarov, Russ. J. Electrochem. 37(2) (2001) 127.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boiadjieva, T., Kovacheva, D., Petrov, K. et al. Electrodeposition, composition and structure of Zn—Cr alloys. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 34, 315–321 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JACH.0000015609.43585.ef
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JACH.0000015609.43585.ef