Zirconium oxide nanocoatings for tarnish protection of silver items

• V.A. Sukhorukova, A.A. Abrashov, D.P. Laktyushina, N.S. Grigoryan, V.V. Russu, N.A. Khazanov and T.A. Vagramyan

Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Russia, Moscow, Miusskaya sq., 9, 125047 Moscow, Russia

Abstract: This work is devoted to the development of the process of applying protective zirconium-containing coating on the surface of silver alloys. The composition of a zirconium-containing solution that contains hexafluorozirconic acid, nickel nitrate, and ammonium paramolybdate has been proposed. The optimal concentrations of the components and deposition conditions have been selected. It has been found that zirconium-containing coatings can be deposited by both chemical and electrochemical methods. The regularities of the effect of deposition parameters on the thickness and protective properties of the coatings have been identified. The mechanism of formation of zirconium-containing coatings on a silver support has been proposed. A method for estimating the tarnish resistance of silver coatings by a modified Tuccillo–Nielsen method using a Na₂S solution has been proposed for the first time and tested. It has been found that the protective ability of zirconium-containing coatings on silver alloys depends on the copper content in the alloy. It has been found that the developed Zr-containing coatings formed by chemical and electrochemical methods do not deteriorate the solderability of silver alloys.

Keywords: surface treatment, tarnish protection, Zr-containing coatings, corrosion protection, chromate-free passivation

Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., 2025, 14, no. 3, 1204-1220
doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2025-14-3-11

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