Enhanced Corrosion Resistance of SiC_p/ 2009 Al by Cerium and Lanthanum Conversion Treatment

Abstract

The present study investigates the effect of lanthanide chlorides conversion coatings on the corrosion response of the 2009 Al alloy and SiCp reinforced 2009 Al MMCs. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization studies showed that the localized corrosion resistance increased after treatments with solutions having various combinations of CeCl3.7H2O and LaCl3.7H2O, with maximum increase noticed for 5000ppm CeCl3.7H2O. It was found that the protection degree effect obtained under similar coating conditions for 25 vol.% SiCp/2009 Al was relatively higher than 15vol.% SiCp/ 2009 Al MMC, but both of them were less than that of the unreinforced alloy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) accompanied with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed the deposition of Ce and/ or La oxides/ hydroxides on cathodic intermetallics/ SiCp and the existence of crevices at the SiCp/ matrix interfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that Ce was incorporated as Ce3+ and Ce4+ species in the coatings.