Organo-aluminum compounds have been used for many years as electrolytes in the coating industry [1±7] and complexes of the type MX´2AlR 3 (where M is an alkali metal or quaternary ammonium salt, X is a halide, preferably fluoride, and R is an alkyl group having 1, 2, or 4 C-atoms) have been recommended. These can be used either as a melt or as solutions in an aromatic hydrocarbon. In recent years, ecological factors as well as the excellent corrosion-resistance associated with the aluminum layer have led to a considerable increase in interest in the electrolytic coating of metal parts and galvanic coating in a closed system at moderate temperatures (60±150 C) has already attained technical significance.To optimize the fuel consumption of vehicles, it will be necessary to decrease their weight by using a combination of various materials such as aluminum and magnesium and their alloys. Although the substitution of aluminum by magnesium can theoretically lead to a weight reduction of one third (due to the difference in density of the two metals), in practice the lower modulus of elasticity and the decreased stiffness shown by magnesium has to be compensated for with additional reinforcement.The substitution of aluminum by magnesium is also accompanied by a higher susceptibility to corrosion. The anisotropy associated with the hexagonal crystal system of magnesium limits the techniques available for working with this metal and, in automobile construction, casting has become the method of choice. The parts, reinforced where necessary, are susceptible to two types of corrosion: contact corrosion and normal surface corrosion. Contact corrosion is observed when magnesium comes into contact with a layer of a second metal or when steel screws are used in magnesium, and is a result of the large negative potential associated with magnesium. Upon contact with magnesium, a second metal having a more positive potential acts as a cathode and, depending upon the potential difference, more or less significant corrosion takes place. This effect is particularly noticeable where contact occurs between magnesium and various types of steel as well as with galvanized steel. Moreover, the galvanic coating of steel fasteners with pure aluminum is only partially effective because the products of magnesium corrosion are alkaline and attack the aluminum surface. [8] In this communication, we describe the development of a galvanic process for generating aluminum±magnesium coatings having various compositions and report some results on their physical properties including adhesion, ductility, and corrosion resistance.Electrolytes for the deposition of aluminum±magnesium coatings onto electrically conducting materials have been described: Connor et al. [9] have briefly mentioned that the electrolysis of AlBr 3 /LiAlH 4 /MgBr 2 (Mg/Al = 0.8) in diethyl ether gave a satisfactory metal surface containing Al (93 %) and Mg (7 %), while Eckert and Gneupel [10] used AlCl 3 / LiAlH 4 /MgBr 2 (Mg/Al = 0.6) in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran±diethyl ether±b...