On the effects of hydrothermal treatments on the corrosion resistance of the TSA anodized AA7475-T761 alloy

Abstract

The effect of hydrothermal treatment time on the sealing and corrosion resistance of the anodized AA7475-T761 aluminium alloy has been investigated in this study. The treatments tested are environmental compatible and has not chromium ions involved. Anodizing was carried out by tartaric-sulphuric anodizing (TSA) and this was followed by hydrothermal treatments for partial sealing, either with or without propyleneglycol (PRG) and/or cerium ions. Four different treatment times were tested, specifically, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 min. The corrosion resistance of the treated samples was evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and the anodic layers formed by anodizing and hydrothermal treatments were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The EIS results indicated that the best corrosion resistance was related to the treatments that combined hydrothermal treatments in boiling water with PRG for 10 minutes or boiling water with PRG and cerium ions for 5 min. The SEM images for the samples showed the formation of a homogeneous anodic layer and the thickness is approximately 3 m. It was noticed that the porosities were not completed sealed by the treatments tested and this was on purpose in order to allow coating adhesion to the anodic layer.