Chromium partitioning induced evolution of texture, grain boundary constitution, and corrosion behavior of Cu[sbnd]Cr coatings electrodeposited at different temperatures

Abstract

The corrosion behavior of CuCr coating electrodeposited at three different temperatures (15 °C, 30 °C, 45 °C) was examined. Cr is partitioned in the grain boundaries and as a solute in the Cu matrix. The formation of Cr-oxide at the grain boundaries enhanced the corrosion resistance of the coatings, whereas the presence of Cr as solute significantly altered the matrix micro-texture. The 15 °C deposited coating exhibited the lowest corrosion rate due to higher Cr solute, smaller grain size, (111) surface texture, and a higher fraction of coincidence site lattices. The 45 °C deposited coating exhibited the highest corrosion rate due to lower Cr solute, higher energy (110) surface texture, and higher fraction of high energy grain boundaries.