Study of Cu-18Ni-20Zn Nickel Silver and other Cu-based alloys in artificial sweat and physiological solution

The electrochemical behaviour of ternary Nickel Silver Cu-18Ni-20Zn alloy has been investigated in artificial sweat and in Ringer physiological solution. The characteristics of binary Cu-20Zn and Cu-20Ni alloys and pure metal components have been compared under electrochemical polarization. The solid and dissolved products formed on the ternary Cu-18Ni-20Zn alloy have been analysed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and polarographic methods, respectively. In the low potential region (E < 0V) the surface layer consists primarily of a thin cuprous oxide layer, whereas at high positive potentials (E > 0V) the layer is composed of a thick copper chloride/oxychloride layer. Its formation is accompanied by increased dissolution of zinc and nickel. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.