Desenvolvimento de uma condição para eletrodeposição do elemento químico nióbio.

Abstract

Niobium and its alloys have been used in many industrial applications for many years. These applications include reactive metal and alloying elements, cathodic protection anodes, superconductors, rocket turbines (LIMA, 2010). Niobium has been used more and more in equipment for chemical processes because of its excellent resistance to corrosion in a wide variety of corrosive media. In addition, it has been used as cathodic protection in production pipes for oils, bridges and storage tanks. (SOUZA 2011). Small amounts of niobium confer greater resistance to other metals, especially those that are exposed to low temperatures. Niobium carbide is used in cutting tools. It is used in stainless steel alloys for nuclear reactors, jets, missiles, cutting tools, pipes, super magnets and solder rods (LIMA, 2010). The electrodeposition, using Watts Bath, is a process that aims at the coating of a metal part in order to add value. Although the industry uses this process massively, the watt bath generates several types of residues, being generated in this process heavy metals, which have a strong tendency to bioaccumulate, and by solvents and acids used in the stages of degreasing and etching (CASAGRANDE et al., 2010). In this work was used the bath method modified watts 30% of the nickel sulfate by potassium niobate we obtained a bath of nickel niobium watts with which a Ni-Nb alloy was obtained. Copper deposits have higher resistance to corrosion due to higher values of Rp and EIE, grains with irregular distribution of up to 5m for Ni-Nb (Fe) and up to 10 m Ni-Nb (Cu) with crystalline form Ni-Nb (Cu) alloy showed more positive potential than Ni. The EDS analyzes of the elerodeposites show a percentage around 1% of Nb that can be attributed to the better corrosion potential of the alloy obtained.