Electrochemical Studies of Cu-Al Alloys in Sulphate Solutions with Different pH

The electrochemical behavior of Cu-(0.5-13 wt.%)Al alloys in K2SO4 0.5 mol dm -3 (µ= 1.5 M, pH 2-5) was studied using open-circuit potential (Eoc) measurements and polarization curves, in order to know the conditions of copper oxides formation, influence of Al concentration and solution pH on the electrode processes. The opencircuit potential measurements with time indicated that the Eoc decreases with the Al content, due to the lower Al potential compared to Cu. The electrode potentials decrease ca. 20 mV per unity of solution pH as increase pH of the solution. The polarization curves showed changes with the increase of Al concentration. For alloys with up to 3 wt.%Al the obtained Tafel anodic coefficient was 40 mV/decade for low potentials region (E < -320 mV) and 130 mV/decade for the other region (-320 < E/mV < -250), indicating that up to this concentration there is no considerable change in the electrochemical behavior of the alloys, when compared to pure Cu. For alloys with an Al content from 8 to 13 wt.% the Tafel anodic coefficient was 60 mV/decade. No influence of the solution pH on the Tafel anodic coefficient was observed.