Compositionally modulated multilayer Cu-Zn alloy coatings fabricated using eco-friendly non-cyanide pulse electrochemical deposition

Abstract

Pulse electrodeposition of Cu-Zn compositional modulated multilayer alloy (CMA) coatings was carried out onto AISI 304 stainless steel substrate using an environmentally friendly alkaline non-cyanide electrolytic bath. Cu-Zn alloy multilayer coating was co-electrodeposited using a trapezoidal pulse current. Multilayer coatings can have two different metals in layers or two-phase mixtures. Different sets of multilayers of 10, 20, 50, and 100 were done using a trapezoidal pulse current. In the trapezoidal pulse current module, during the higher current stage (0.1 A) Zn was deposited as compared to the lower current module (0.02 A) where Cu was deposited. Microstructural and structural analysis of the coatings confirmed nanocrystalline morphology with peaks corresponding to crystallographic planes of (002), (111), (020), and (022). Deposited coatings are hydrophilic in nature. The microhardness of the coatings is decreased with an increase in the number of layers deposited. © © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.