Anti-corrosive Properties of CeO2 Conversion Coatings on Aluminum Alloy 2024 Prepared by Dip Immersion Method

As an alternative to chromate conversion coatings, rare-earth coatings especially cerium, because of the low toxicity, have attracted considerable attention. Using dip immersion method, cerium-based conversion coating was deposited on aluminum 2024. Corrosion resistance was studied in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and surface methods. The coated samples revealed a considerable decrease in corrosion rate and with increasing immersion time up to 1200 s, the coating resistance increased. Electrochemical impedance data showed that the aluminum charge transfer resistance was increased in the existence of cerium oxide conversion coatings. Using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the chemical composition and surface morphology were also evaluated.