EFFECT OF SCANDIUM ON THE STRUCTURE AND CORROSION PROPERTIES OF VAPOR-DEPOSITED NANOSTRUCTURED QUASICRYSTALLINE Al–Cu–Fe FILMS

Abstract

The structure and corrosion properties of quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Fe and Al–Cu–Fe–Sc films 200–260 nm thick produced by three-electrode ion-plasma sputtering of assembled targets were studied. The structural and phase composition of the films was determined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. The corrosion properties were examined in 3, 5, and 16% aqueous NaCl solutions (pH = 6.9) at room temperature. An icosahedral fine quasicrystalline phase was found to form in the deposited films. The sizes of coherent scattering domains indicate that the coatings are nanosized. The addition of 0.5 at.% Sc to the quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Fe films increases their corrosion resistance as evidenced by measurements of stationary potentials in saline solutions of different concentrations.