Electrochemical behavior of alloy AgCu50 during oxidation in the presence of chlorides and benzotriazole

Abstract The presence of chloride ions in concentrations higher than 0.01 mol × dm−3 significantly intensifies anodic processes at AgCu50 alloy. In order to slow down this reaction, it was looked for the possibility of using benzotriazole known as an effective corrosion inhibitor for copper. This paper shows the influence of benzotriazole in a wide range of concentrations on inhibition of anodic processes as well as its influence on mechanism of the reactions such as formation of copper and silver oxides and chlorides. To determine this influence, open circuit potential measurements, anodic polarization and potentiostatic oxidation followed by optical microscopy were used. It was discovered that benzotriazole in concentrations higher than 0.005 mol × dm−3 almost completely passivates the mentioned alloy in alkaline solutions in the presence of chloride ions in a concentration range from 0.01 to 0.02 mol × dm−3.