The Effect of Phosphorus on the Corrosion of Glassy Copper-Zirconium Alloys

Glassy Cu₆₀Zr₄₀ and Cu₅₆Zr₄₂P₂ were melt-spun and tested in various corrosive solutions. It was found that the phosphorus-containing alloy generally showed lower corrosion rates. The corrosion results in sulfuric acid are found to be related to the flat-band potentials of the zirconia surface film on the alloys. The flat-band potentials were determined by photoelectrochemistry. It was confirmed that copper acts as a p-type dopant in the zirconia surface film and phosphorus acts as an n-type dopant in the zirconia film. It is believed that this n-type doping induces a barrier to corrosion.