Aluminium/zirconium alloys obtained by Al underpotential deposition onto Zr from low temperature AlCl3+NaCl molten salts

Abstract

Contrary to the widely accepted hypothesis that it is not possible, aluminium underpotential deposition (UPD) onto zirconium from a low temperature (200, 250 and 300°C) equimolar chloroaluminate melt was recorded. Furthermore, it was shown that aluminium UPD facilitates alloy formation between the deposited aluminium monolayer and the zirconium substrate by interdiffusion. The aluminium/zirconium alloys formed at the temperatures substantially lower than those needed for thermal preparation of the same alloys were: Al3Zr2 and Al3Zr. Experimental techniques used were linear sweep voltammetry, potential step, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for characterization of obtained electrode surfaces.

Keywords

• electrochemical metal deposition
• chloroaluminate melt
• solid state interdiffusion
• intermetallics