Investigation on wear and corrosion behavior of Cu–graphite composites prepared by electroforming

Cu–graphite composites were prepared by electroforming technique in an acidic sulfate bath with graphite particles in suspension. Graphite particles change the regular surface structure of copper, increasing its microcrystallinity. The preferential orientation is changed from (2 0 0) plane to (2 2 0) plane. Wear resistance is improved after the incorporation of graphite particles into copper matrix. The wear mechanisms of copper and Cu–graphite composites are adhesive wear and delaminating wear, respectively. The corrosion behavior of the composites with different immersion time in 3.5% NaCl solution was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Two equivalent circuits were adopted for the analysis of the impedance spectra. The changes in the corrosion mechanism after immersion in 3.5% NaCl solution are ascribed to the formation of Cu2O film on the surfaces of Cu–graphite composites.