Copper Electrodeposition on a Magnesium Alloy (AZ80) with a U-Shaped Surface

Materials (Basel). 2014 Nov 14;7(11):7366-7378. doi: 10.3390/ma7117366.

Abstract

Cu electrodeposition was performed on a cylindrical AZ80 substrate with a U-shaped surface. A uniform deposition of Cu was achieved on an AZ80 electrode via galvanostatic etching, followed by Cu electrodeposition in an eco-friendly alkaline Cu plating bath. Improper wetting and lower rotational speeds of the AZ80 electrode resulted in an uneven Cu deposition at the inner upper site of the U-shaped surface during the Cu electroplating process. This wetting effect could be deduced from the variation in the anodic potential during the galvanostatic etching. The corrosion resistance of the Cu-deposited AZ80 electrode can be considerably improved after Ni electroplating.

Keywords: corrosion; electrochemical reactions; metal and alloys; thin films.