The corrosion study of ZrO_2 coatings on metals

摘要

The ZrO2 coatings were deposited by sol-gel techniques on copper and steel. The film morphology has been investigated by AFM technique. The performance of ZrO2 films as protective layers was investigated by electrochemical techniques and optical microscopy. Firstly, the electrochemical behaviour of the uncoated copper and steel substrates was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in HCl (1 M) and NaOH (0.4 M) solutions having various pH values. Secondly, the anticorrosion protective effect of sol-gel ZrO2 coatings was evaluated by potentiodynamic measurements in degrading media in which substrates were immersed for 1-90 days. The comparisons of electrochemical parameters allow an explanation of the role of the ZrO2 coatings in the increased resistance of steel and copper against corrosion in moderately aggressive environments.