Corrosion behaviour of Cu–10Sn bronze in aerated NaCl aqueous media – Electrochemical investigation

Abstract Investigation of the electrochemical behaviour of Cu–10Sn (wt.%) alloy has been conducted in aerated aqueous chloride solutions and compared to that of pure Cu and Sn. Cathodic and anodic bronze behaviours have been investigated in function of the chloride concentrations (0.1–0.001 M), the rotation speed of the electrode and the potential sweep rate after 1-h immersion time in open-circuit conditions. At the corrosion potential, the corrosion behaviour appears determined by the charge-transfer controlled reduction of oxygen and the mixed charge- and mass-transfer controlled electrodissolution. In 0.1 M NaCl solution, three anodic regions are evidenced corresponding to: (I) a dissolution part from Eoc value, (II) a maximum current region corresponding to peaks formation and (III) a large current plateau. A partial protective effect of the corrosion product layer is observed at high anodic potential. It has been interpreted as the result of a 3D growth mechanism involving the formation of stable tin species in the layer according to a “pore resistance model”. Results on synthetic alloy are compared with those obtained on an archaeological bronze with a similar composition immersed in the same medium. Equivalent interface behaviour is evidenced between the synthetic and the archaeological bronzes.