Cu-Sn Coatings Produced Using Environmentally Non-Aggressive Electrolyte Containing Sodium Tartrate

The coatings were electrodeposited on carbon steel substrate AISI 1020 using an electrolyte containing CuCl2 and SnCl2, and sodium tartrate as the complexant agent. The produced coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICPOES) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

The film showing the highest corrosion resistance was obtained using j = 100 Am-2. This coating was composed by 95.18 % m/m Cu and 4.83 % m/m Sn, and presented a uniform surface, without defects and small grain sizes. These characteristics probably contributed to the formation of Cu-Sn protective film onto steel substrate from a tartrate bath.