Deposition of Cerium-Based Conversion Coatings on Aluminum Alloy 380

Abstract

Cerium-based conversion coatings were deposited on as-cast aluminum alloy 380 substrates by a spontaneous immersion process. In this study, the effects of rinsing temperature prior to immersion in the coating deposition solution were studied with respect to the surface morphology, electrochemical response, and corrosion resistance of the coatings. Panels rinsed at [superscript]25°[/superscript] C prior to coating had large cracks and holes in the coating. In contrast, panels rinsed at [superscript]100°[/superscript] C prior to coating had a uniform coating morphology with fewer, smaller cracks. Electrochemical testing revealed that coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at [superscript]100°[/superscript] C had higher impedance (~80 kΩ·cm2) and lower corrosion current (~0.34 μ A/cm2) compared to coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at [superscript]25°[/superscript] C , which had 10 kΩ·cm2 impedance and 2.7 μ A/cm2 corrosion current. Finally, ASTM B117 salt spray testing showed that rinsing at [superscript]100°[/superscript] C prior to coating resulted in cerium-based conversion coatings that could resist the formation of salt tails for at least 8 days.

(ProQuest: ... denotes non-US-ASCII text omitted.)

Recommended by Ingrid Milosev

Materials Research Center and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USA

Received 11 May 2012; Revised 18 July 2012; Accepted 23 July 2012

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

1. Introduction

Aluminum cast alloys are widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries where innovative, lightweight materials and product forms are needed to improve performance [1]. Common aluminum casting alloys contain alloying additives that affect the mechanical properties, fluidity, and corrosion resistance [2]. For example, the 3xx.x series contain noble alloying elements such as Si and Cu that can promote pitting corrosion and lead to the failure of aluminum alloy components [3].

Chromate conversion coatings are used for corrosion protection for a wide variety of aluminum alloy components [4]. However, the toxicity and carcinogenic properties of hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺ ) have caused severe restrictions to be imposed on the use of chromates [5-7]. As a result, environmentally benign alternatives to chromates have been extensively investigated [8]. Potential replacements for chromate conversion coatings include anodized coatings [9], rare-earth-based inhibitors in conversion coatings [10], and sol-gel coatings [11]. Among potential chromate replacements, rare-earth inhibitors have attracted significant attention. Hinton et al. were the first to investigate cerium-based conversion coatings (CeCCs) as an environmentally benign alternative to chromate conversion coatings [12, 13].

The corrosion resistance of CeCCs is thought to arise from a combination of barrier properties and active response to the environment [14, 15]. The barrier protection properties of CeCCs have been studied by changing processing parameters, specifically surface preparation [16, 17], posttreatment [18], and the use of gelatin [19]. The corrosion resistance of CeCCs on high-strength aluminum alloys has been optimized through screening studies that have examined variables such as cerium concentration, pH of the deposition solution, and hydrogen peroxide concentration [20, 21]. The composition of the spray deposition solution used in the present research is based on the work of Pinc et al. [19] that exhibited the best corrosion resistance on Al 2024-T3.

Previous studies have focused on the deposition mechanisms of CeCCs from cerium chloride solutions onto aluminum alloy substrates. Hinton and Wilson [22] speculated that many electrochemical cells would arise due to the different activities of intermetallic particles on the surface of an aluminum alloy when the alloy was immersed into the solution. When immersed, anodic dissolution as expressed by Reaction (1) could occur at different locations according to the inhomogeneous surface activity. [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

As Al dissolves, the corresponding cathodic reaction could be hydrogen evolution (Reaction (2)), the reduction of peroxide (Reaction (3)), and/or reduction of oxygen dissolved in solution (Reaction (4)): [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

The pH in the electrolyte near local cathodic sites increases as the electrode reactions proceed. At pH values lower than 2.5, H₂ O₂ complexes with Ce(III) species in solution as Ce(H₂ O₂ )³⁺ , and with increasing pH values (2.5 to 3.3) through deprotonating steps peroxo species form Ce(O₂ )²⁺ and when the pH value reaches 6.5 Ce(O₂ )²⁺ transforms to Ce(O₂ )(OH)₂ [23, 24]. In the deposition process, H₂ O₂ acts as a complexing agent, oxidant, crystallization inhibitor, and OH^- generator [24].

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the deposition of cerium-based conversion coatings on cast aluminum alloy 380 (AA 380). The effects of pretreatment and the temperature of the panel before immersion on coating morphology, electrochemical response, and corrosion resistance were investigated.

2. Experimental Procedure

Aluminum alloy 380 sheets 0.3 cm thick were cut into test panels 2.5 cm by 7.6 cm in size. The nominal composition of AA 380 is summarized in Table 1 [1]. Pretreatment of the panels prior to coating started with an isopropyl alcohol wipe followed by degreasing in an aqueous solution of a commercial alkaline cleaner (5 wt% Turco 4215 NC-LT in deionized water) for 5 minutes at 55°C. After degreasing, the panels were activated by immersion for 10 min at 50°C in an aqueous solution containing 1 wt% sulfuric acid. Following cleaning and activation, the panels were rinsed in deionized water that was either at room temperature (nominally 25°C) or heated to 100°C for about 1 minute. After rinsing, the panels were immersed in the deposition solution for different time intervals of up to 8 min.

Table 1: Nominal compositions of Al alloy 380 [1].

Element	Si	Fe	Cu	Mn	Mg	Ni	Zn	Sn	Other	Al
wt%	7.5-9.5	2.0	3.0-4.0	0.50	0.10	0.50	3.0	0.35	0.50	Balance

The CeCC deposition solution was prepared from a stock solution consisting of 40 g CeCl₃ · x H₂ O (Alfa Aesar, 99.9%) and 780 g of deionized water. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 2.07 with HCl after dissolution of the cerium chloride. For the deposition solution, 205 g of the stock solution was mixed with 0.8 g of a water soluble gelatin (DSF, Rousselot) that was dissolved in 25 g of deionized water. Just before deposition, 15 mL of H₂ O₂ (Fisher Chemical, 30 wt%) was added.

Coated panels were posttreated by immersion for 5 minutes in a water solution containing 2.5 wt% Na₃ PO₄ (pH adjusted to 4.5 with phosphoric acid) that was heated to 85°C. Posttreatment converts the as-deposited hydrated cerium oxide phase to hydrated cerium phosphate, which has superior corrosion protection [14, 18]. The corrosion resistances of the coated panels were evaluated using salt spray testing (Q-Fog, Q-Panel Lab Products) per ASTM standard B117. Panels with CeCCs were stored at room temperature in the laboratory for at least 24 h before characterization or salt spray testing.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM; Hitachi S-4700) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS; Phoenix System) was used to characterize the surface morphologies and compositions of CeCCs. Coating thicknesses were determined from cross-sections of coated panels that were produced by focus ion beam milling in a dual column instrument (FIB; FEI Helios NanoLab 600).

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was carried out at open-circuit potential with amplitude of 10 mV in the frequency range from 10⁵ to 10^-2 Hz. Measurements were made after stabilization in the test electrolyte for 1500 s. All experiments were conducted with a frequency response analyzer (Schlumberger SI 1255 HF) coupled with a potentiostat/galvanostat (EG&G Princeton Applied Research Model 273A). Spectra were fit to equivalent circuit models to determine coating characteristics including coating impedance ( _RP ) according to previously reported methods [25, 26]. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements were carried out after EIS, the initial potential was -400 mV_SCE and final potential is 800 mV_SCE with respect to the open-circuit potential, and the scan rate was 1 mV/sec. A standard flat cell (EG&G Princeton Applied Research) was used for the electrochemical polarization measurements. The cell electrolyte was a modified prohesion solution, which consisted of 0.70 wt% (NH₄ )₂ SO₄ and 0.35 wt% NaCl in deionized water. Specimens were tested at the natural pH of the solution, which was about 5.5. The exposed area of the working electrode was 1 cm² . A saturated calomel electrode (SCE) was used as the reference electrode and Pt mesh was used as the counter electrode. Open-circuit potential ( _Ecorr ) and corrosion current ( _Icorr ) were determined by the Tafel fit method using CorrView and ZView software (Scribner Associates) as previously reported [18].

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Effect of Pretreatment

Aluminum alloy 380 is composed of several different phases including the Al matrix phase, a major second phase of Si, and trace intermetallic phases such as Al₂ Cu, FeSi₂ , and Al_4.5 FeSi. Analysis of surface morphology (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)) and chemistry of the substrate after pretreatment revealed that intermetallic particles containing Fe and Si were dissolved by the alkaline or acid pretreatments. Dissolution sometimes left holes in the substrates that were up to about 20 μ m in diameter (Figures 1(c) and 1(d)). No discernible differences in surface morphology were observed for panels that had been rinsed with water at room temperature or 100°C.

SEM surface morphology of AA 380 panels after alkaline cleaning and acid activation and (a) polishing with 180 grit abrasive paper, (b) water rinsing at 25°C, (c) water rinsing at 25°C showing an area with removal of material, and (d) water rinsing at 100°C.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(c) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(d) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

Pretreatment altered the electrochemical response of the substrates. From the potentiodynamic curves shown in Figure 2(a), pretreatment increased the open-circuit potential from about -600 mV_SCE for the starting panel to about -500 mV_SCE after alkaline cleaning, acid activation, and rinsing. Figure 2(a) also shows that the pretreatment increased the corrosion current from 0.3 μ A/cm² before pretreatment to 2.0 μ A/cm² after pretreatment. However, the rinsing temperature, 25°C or 100°C, did not produce significant differences in either the open-circuit potential or the corrosion current. The increase in corrosion current after pretreatment indicated that the alloy surface was more electrochemically active, which made the panels easier to coat. From the corresponding electrochemical impendence spectra (Figure 2(b)), the impedance of the starting panel was around 40 kohm·cm² , which was much larger than the impedance after pretreatment (~7.5 kohm·cm² for both rinsing temperatures). Based on comparisons to the results of previous studies [27], the pretreatment process likely reduced the thickness of the native oxide layer, which decreased the impedance of the substrate. Previous analysis showed that the reduction in impedance and increase in corrosion current were necessary to promote deposition of CeCCs [27].

(a) Potentiodynamic polarization curves and (b) impedance spectroscopy of AA 380 panels before pretreatment (bare) and after rinsing at 25°C and 100°C.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

3.2. Electrochemical Behavior of CeCCs

For substrates rinsed at 25°C prior to coating deposition, increasing the immersion time in the coating solution made the surface more electrochemically active (values summarized in Table 2). From the potentiodynamic curves in Figure 3(a), the corrosion current increased from 0.82 μ A/cm² after two minutes in the coating solution to 1.6 μ A/cm² after 5 minutes and 2.7 μ A/cm² after eight minutes. In contrast, the open-circuit potential did not vary significantly among the three panels, with all having values around -530 mV_SCE . The increasing corrosion current with the increasing immersion time suggests that the surface of the AA 380 is more susceptible to chloride attack and dissolution. Therefore, for substrates rinsed at 25°C, increasing the immersion time appears to increase attack of the substrate by chloride ions in the coating solution.

Table 2: Electrochemical parameters derived from potentiodynamic polarization measurements and impedance spectra.

Immersion time (min)	Corrosion parameters
Rp (kohm ·cm2 )	Icorr (μ A/cm2 )	Ecorr (mVSCE )
25°C	100°C	25°C	100°C	25°C	100°C
2	32	36	0.82	0.73	-540	-480
5	16	49	1.60	0.54	-550	-480
8	10	76	2.70	0.34	-510	-540

(a) Potentiodynamic polarization curves and (b) impedance spectra for CeCCs deposited AA 380 substrates rinsed at 25°C as a function of coating deposition time.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

For substrates rinsed at 100°C prior to coating deposition, increasing the immersion time in the coating solution increased the corrosion resistance (values summarized in Table 2). The potentiodynamic curves shown in Figure 4(a) reveal that the corrosion current decreased from 0.73 μ A/cm² after immersion for 2 minutes to 0.54 μ A/cm² after five minutes and to 0.34 μ A/cm² after eight minutes. The open circuit potential was about the same after immersion in the deposition solution for 2 or 5 minutes (-480 mV_SCE ), but decreased to about -540 mV_SCE after immersion for eight minutes. The decreasing corrosion current indicated that the coatings had better corrosion resistance as the immersion time increased. Compared to panels rinsing at 25°C (0.82 μ A/cm² ), rinsing at 100°C for 2 minutes resulted in a coating with better corrosion resistance (0.73 μ A/cm² ) and the corrosion resistance, as measured by corrosion current, continued to increase as deposition time increased. Therefore, rinsing at 100°C prior to coating deposition appears to produce CeCCs on AA 380 with better corrosion resistance.

(a) Potentiodynamic polarization curves and (b) impedance spectra for CeCCs deposited AA 380 substrates rinsed at 100°C as a function of coating deposition time.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

The EIS results as a function of immersion time were consistent with potentiodynamic analysis (Table 2). Rinsing at 25°C prior to deposition resulted in coatings with impedance values that decreased as immersion time increased (Figure 3(b)). For panels rinsed at 25°C prior to coating, the impedance was 32 kohm·cm² after 2 minutes of immersion in the coating solution and the value decreased to 16 kohm·cm² after 5 minutes and 10 kohm·cm² after eight minutes. However, for panels rinsed at 100°C prior to coating deposition, the impedance was 36 kohm·cm² after immersion in the coating solution for 2 minutes, and it increased to 49 kohm·cm² after 5 minutes and 79 kohm·cm² after 8 minutes (Figure 4(b)). For panels rinsed at 100°C prior to coating deposition, the impedance of 79 kohm·cm² after 8 minutes of immersion in the coating solution was more than double the highest value for coatings deposited on panels rinsed at 25°C, which was 32 kohm·cm² after 2 minutes of immersion in the coating solution. These results indicate that rinsing at 25°C prior to deposition led to corrosion resistance that decreased with increasing immersion time in the coating solution whereas rinsing at 100°C prior to coating deposition led to corrosion resistance that increased with the increasing immersion time.

3.3. Morphology and Thickness of the CeCCs

Coatings that were deposited on panels rinsed at 25°C were cracked and had large holes. As shown in Figure 5, the cracks became larger as coating time increased. In addition to the cracks, large holes (dark areas), ~5 μ m in diameter, were also observed on the panel surfaces. Even though the coatings were cracked, the average thickness (Figure 6) in areas with coating increased as immersion time increased. For example, the coating thickness was about 350 nm after 2 min, but increased to nearly 2 μ m after 8 min of immersion in the coating solution. However, the thickness was not uniform and varied across the panel. The surface morphology supports the electrochemical testing results that showed that the coating impedance decreased as immersion time increased for coatings on substrates rinsed at 25°C. As coating time increased, the size of cracks grew, which exposed more of the substrate to the coating solution and allowed for attack of the substrate. The impedance approached a value of 10 kohm·cm² for deposition times of 8 min, which was about one-third of the value (32 kohm·cm² ) after immersion for 2 minutes. Hence, SEM analysis was consistent with electrochemical results that showed coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 25°C did not serve as effective barriers to corrosion due to nonuniform coverage of the AA 380 surface.

Surface morphology of coatings deposited on panels rinsed at 25°C after immersion in the coating solution for (a) 2 min, (b) 5 min, and (c) 8 min.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(c) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

Figure 6: Thickness as a function of immersion time for CeCCs deposited on panels rinsed at 25°C and 100°C.

[figure omitted; refer to PDF]

Coatings that were deposited on substrates that were rinsed at 100°C had a nodular appearance (Figure 7) for all deposition times, which is similar to what has been reported in previous work [13]. The coatings covered the substrates and only a few, small cracks were observed. As with coatings on substrates rinsed at 25°C, the thickness of CeCCs deposited on substrates that were rinsed at 100°C increased with increasing deposition time. After 2 minutes of immersion, the coating thickness was just over 200 nm and it increased to ~700 nm after immersion for 8 min (Figure 6). Despite being approximately twice as thick as CeCCs on high-strength aluminum alloys, such as Al 2024-T3 and Al 7075-T6 [28, 29], the coatings had only a few small cracks. As shown by the electrochemical analysis in Figure 4(b), coating impedance increased as immersion time increased, which is consistent with the formation of a thicker, continuous coating. Therefore, the surface morphology and thickness of the coatings are consistent with the electrochemical results, which showed that coatings on substrates that were rinsed at 100°C increased the impedance compared to uncoated substrates.

Surface morphology of coatings deposited on panels rinsed at 100°C after immersion in the coating solution for (a) 2 min, (b) 5 min, (c) 8 min.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(c) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

3.4. Corrosion Protection

Cerium-based conversion coatings had a yellow-gold appearance (Figures 8(a) and 9(a)) after posttreatment. After salt spray testing, coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 25°C prior to immersion showed a significant amount of white corrosion produce (i.e., salting). Corrosion pits and salt tails were visible after just 24 hours in salt spray testing as shown in Figure 8(b). Coatings continued to degrade with further time in salt spray testing (Figures 8(c) and 8(d)). In contrast, coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 100°C prior to deposition showed better corrosion resistance. After 24 hours, a few corrosion pits were present (Figure 9(b)), but significant salting was not observed until after 192 hours of salt spray testing. Therefore the results of salt spray testing were consistent with electrochemical characterization and surface morphology. Coatings deposited on substrates that were rinsed at 25°C prior to immersion had higher corrosion currents, lower impedance values, and were cracked, which led to more severe corrosion in salt spray testing. However, coatings that were deposited on substrates that were rinsed at 100°C prior to deposition had lower corrosion currents, higher impedance values, and were free of large cracks. As a result, coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 100°C provided improved corrosion protection for AA 380 alloy substrates.

Optical images of coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 25°C (a) as deposited, and after salt spray testing for (b) 24 hours, (c) 96 hours, and (d) 192 hours.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(c) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(d) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

Optical images of coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 100°C (a) as deposited, and after salt spray testing for (b) 24 hours, (c) 96 hours, and (d) 192 hours.

(a) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(b) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(c) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

(d) [figure omitted; refer to PDF]

4. Summary

Cerium-based conversion coatings were deposited on AA 380 alloy substrates. This study examined the effect of changing the rinsing temperature prior immersion in the coating solution on the electrochemical response, coating morphology, and corrosion resistance of CeCCs. From the results described above, the conclusions that can be drawn include the following.

(1) Differences in the rinsing temperature did not produce any noticeable differences in the morphology of the substrates prior to coating or the electrochemical response of the panels prior to coating. Based on SEM/EDS analysis, pretreatment led to the removal of Fe and Si-rich intermetallic compounds from the substrate surfaces, but the open-circuit potential (-500 mV_SCE ), corrosion current (2 μ A/cm² ), and impedance (7.5 kΩ·cm² ) of the pretreated panels were nearly identical regardless of the final rinsing temperature.

(2) Coatings deposited on panels rinsed at 25°C had cracks and large holes in the CeCCs. The cracks and holes became larger and deeper with increasing immersion time. The surface morphology was consistent with results of the electrochemical tests. For example, immersion for two minutes resulted in a corrosion current of 0.82 μ A/cm² and an impedance of 32 kΩ·cm² . As the coating deposition time increased to 5 minutes, the cracks become bigger and large holes appeared. This resulted in a corrosion current that increased to 1.6 μ A/cm² and an impedance that decreased to 16 kΩ·cm² . After 8 minutes of immersion in the coating solution, the coating had even lower values of corrosion current (2.7 μ A/cm² ) and impedance (10 kΩ·cm² ).

(3) Rinsing at 100°C prior to coating deposition resulted in coatings that had uniform appearance and fewer cracks. With increasing immersion time, the thickness of the coatings increased uniformly, which enhanced the corrosion resistance. From electrochemical testing, immersion for 2 minutes in the deposition solution produced a corrosion current of 0.73 μ A/cm² and an impedance of 36 kΩ·cm² with a coating thickness of ~200 nm. Increasing the coating deposition time to 5 minutes increased the thickness of the coating to ~400 nm, decreased the corrosion current to 0.54 μ A/cm² , and increased the impedance to 49 kΩ·cm² . Further increasing the immersion time to 8 minutes increased the coating thickness to ~750 nm, decreased the corrosion current to 0.34 μ A/cm² , and increased the impedance to 76 kΩ·cm² . Apparently, the higher rinsing temperature led to more uniform nucleation and growth of the resulting CeCC, which decreased the corrosion current and increased the impedance compared to similar coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 25°C.

(4) Cerium-based conversion coatings deposited on AA 380 panels that were rinsed in water heated to 100°C after pretreatment, but before CeCC deposition provided significant corrosion resistance. Whereas coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 25°C had both pits and salt tails after only 24 hours in salt spray testing, coatings deposited on substrates rinsed at 100°C were able to inhibit formation of salt tails for at least 96 hours. The improved corrosion performance of CeCCs on substrates that were rinsed at 100°C was attributed to the more uniform coating that was deposited, which led to higher impedance and lower corrosion currents.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical guidance and support of Bruce Sartwell at the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). This work was funded through SERDP under Contract W912HQ-08-C-0008 as Project WP-1618. The assistance of Clarissa Wisner (SEM), Dr. Elizabeth Kulp (FIB), Dr. Kai Song (FIB), and Carlos Castano (FIB) from the Graduate Center for Materials Research at Missouri S&T is acknowledged.

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