Influence of pre-treatments in cerium conversion treatment of AA2024-T3 and 7075-T6 alloys

The role of pre-treatment in the formation of a cerium conversion coating is investigated for the protection of AA2024-T3 and 7075-T6 alloys. The alloys were alkaline-etched and de-smutted in nitric acid, prior to cerium treatment in Ce(NO3)3 at 85 °C with H2O2 accelerator. Potentiodynamic polarization studies in 3.5% NaCl solution revealed a large shift of ∼ 300 mV of the corrosion potential below the pitting potential for the 7075-T6 alloy, which correlated with the development of a finely-textured, uniform coating. However, the formation of a uniform coating and protection was dependent upon the time of de-smutting, with non-uniform coatings resulting from extended times of de-smutting. In contrast, non-uniform coatings developed on the 2024-T3 alloy, with pitting potential at the corrosion potential, irrespective of the time of de-smutting. Findings for the 2024-T3 alloy indicate that extended de-smutting affects the enrichment of alloying elements.