Corrosion Resistance of Copper Coatings Deposited by Cold Spraying

In the article, a study of corrosion resistance of copper and copper-based cermet (Cu+Al₂O₃ and Cu+SiC) coatings deposited onto aluminum alloy substrate using the low-pressure cold spraying method is presented. The samples were subjected to two different corrosion tests at room temperature: (1) Kesternich test and (2) a cyclic salt spray test. The selected tests were allowed to simulate service conditions typical for urban, industrial and marine environment. Examination of corroded samples included analysis changes on the coating surface and in the microstructure. The physicochemical tests were carried out using x-ray diffraction to define corrosion products. Moreover, microhardness and electrical conductivity measurements were conducted to estimate mechanical and physical properties of the coatings after corrosion tests. XRD analysis clearly showed that regardless of corrosion conditions, for all samples cuprite (Cu₂O) was the main product. However, in the case of Cu+Al₂O₃ cermet coating, chlorine- and sulfate-containing phases such as Cu₂Cl(OH)₃ (paracetamite) and Cu₃(SO₄)(OH)₄ (antlerite) were also recorded. This observation gives better understanding of the lowest microstructure changes observed for Cu+Al₂O₃ coating after the corrosion tests. This is also a justification for the lowest decrease in electrical conductivity registered after the corrosion tests for this coating.