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 sealing and corrosion resistance of the AA7475-T761 anodized aluminium alloy has been investigated in this study. The hydrothermal treatments tested are environmental compatible without chromium ions involved. Anodizing was carried out by a tartaric-sulphuric anodizing (TSA) process and this was followed by hydrothermal treatments for partial sealing, in various solutions. The effect of propyleneglycol (PRG) and/or cerium ions in the hydrothermal treatment solution was evaluated. Four treatment times were tested, specifically, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 min. The corrosion resistance of the anodized and treated samples was evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and the anodic layers formed were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The EIS results showed that the hydrothermal treatments in solutions with cerium ions resulted in similar impedances for periods of treatment from 5 to 10 min whereas in the solutions with PRG the impedance increased with time of treatment from 2.5 to 10 min showing a slower kinetics of anodic layer sealing. However, the fastest kinetics of sealing were associated to the treatments that combined two steps, one in PRG and other in cerium containing solutions with similar impedances obtained from 2.5 to 10 min of treatment. Surface evaluation by SEM showed that the porosities in the anodic layer were not sealed for the periods of hydrothermal treatments corresponding to 2.5 min. The presence of cerium in hydrothermal treatment had a beneficial effect on the stability of the anodic layer formed and provided a healing effect on the corroding sites.