Title: Co-deposition of copper–zinc alloy in cyanide-based electrolytes

Authors: Ahmed Y. Musa, Abdul Amir H. Kadhum, Mohd Sobri Takriff, Q.J.M. Slaiman

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract: On preparation to produce different chemical compositions of Cu-Zn alloys coatings on graphite substrate using commercial cyanide based electrolytes at 50°C in a stirred solution, two individual anodes were prepared instead of one anode, one of them made from copper and the other made from zinc. The cathodic current efficiency for Cu-Zn alloy plating was studied. The relationship between current densities of individual copper and zinc anodes with percentages of Cu-Zn alloys plating in alkaline solutions was studied also. The results showed that good quality copper–zinc alloy deposits could be produced in cyanide base electrolytes with individual anodes of copper and zinc. Excellent control on the metal ratio in the alloy structure can be achieved by regulating current densities for both individual anodes of copper and zinc to plate Cu-Zn alloy. The deposition potential study indicate that the potential values of −1050 mV and −1207 mV can be applied to produce equal ratio of Cu-Zn alloy.

Keywords: co-deposition; alloy electrodeposition; complex agent; copper–zinc alloys; cyanide based electrolytes; coatings; graphite substrate.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2008.022290

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2008 Vol.2 No.6, pp.541 - 549

Published online: 26 Dec 2008 *

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