In this study, phosphate surface pretreatment (PSPT) and poly[pyromellitic dianhydride-co-4,4ʹ-oxydianiline] polyimide (PMDA-ODA PI) coating were used to provide corrosion protection for Mg-5 wt.% Sn alloy. PSPT enhanced the adhesion of PI coating by mechanical interlocking and chemical anchoring. Surface roughness was increased and provided stronger mechanical interlocking. Phosphates were formed on the alloy surface to act as anchor groups. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that bonds formed between anchor groups and PI coating. The bonds provided chemical anchoring and enhanced the adhesion of PI coating. The increase of corrosion resistance of PI coating on Mg-5 wt.% Sn alloy (E corr = −0.86 V/SCE, I corr ¼ 4:9 Â 10 À2 µA cm −2 and corrosion rate far less than 0:1 ml cm À2 day À1 Þ showed the bonds were stable enough to stand the attack of electrolyte and inhibit the electrochemical reaction at the interface.
IntroductionMagnesium alloys possess enormous advantages for high-performance automotive applications due to their superior properties such as low density, high specific mechanical strength, good heat conductivity, and good damping capacity. [1,2] Besides, the low density of magnesium alloy also satisfies the increasing demand for high energy efficiency in the automobile industry. Nowadays, most commercial uses of magnesium alloy are based on the well-developed Mg-Al system alloys. With the increasing needs of applications at elevated temperatures, Mg-Sn system alloys may take the place of Mg-Al system to be used due to its better mechanical properties at elevated temperature. [3,4] However, the better mechanical properties of Mg-Sn system at elevated temperature are not enough to replace Mg-Al system to be used as commercialized magnesium alloy. It is well known that poor corrosion resistance is the major barrier to hinder the industrialization of magnesium alloy. Besides, the lack of aluminum which forms Al 2 O 3 to protect the substrate from corrosion [5] in Mg-Sn system makes corrosion resistance of Mg-Sn system much worse than that of Mg-Al system.[6] Therefore,