Electrodissolution of Cu-Zn Alloys in Acetate Media

Abstract

The eletrodissolution of Cu-Zn alloys with different chemical compositions (Cu37Zn and Cu39Zn3Pb) in acetate buffer pH 5 was studied by means of corrosion potential measurements and cyclic voltammetry, under static and dynamic conditions.The lower corrosion resistance of the brass in comparison to pure Cu, was attributed to the anodic layer structure consisting of a complex ZnO.x H2O /Cu2U-CuO layer, which is less protective than the Cu2O-CuO passive layer produced onto Cu. No selective dissolution of Zn was detected at both alloys, being their electrodissolution rate higher than that of pure Cu and smaller than that of pure Zn.