Local electrochemical studies of single grains of a polycrystalline Cu-16%Zn-8%Al alloy were investigated in borate buffer solution (pH 8.4) by means of microelectrochemical technique. The grain orientations, which were determined by the Laue back-reflection method, were predominantly close to [110] direction, suggesting that the sample was texturized. The open circuit potential measurements showed that the lower steady state potential was observed for the grain which has the highest number of steps on the alloy surface. The cyclic voltammetry experiments suggested that the orientation of Cu2O follows the substrate one in the Cu-Zn-Al alloy, while CuO grows independently.
Cu-Zn-Al alloys; shape memory alloys; single grains; borate buffer; microelectrochemical cell
