Influence of Li+/Al3+ on the corrosion behavior of Li-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) film on LA51 magnesium alloys

A hierarchical superhydrophobic Al-Li layered double hydroxide (LDH) films with different Li+/Al3+ molar ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, pH value of 11.5 and reaction temperature of 125 °C, have been fabricated on the surface of Mg-5Li-1Al (LA51) alloys by hydrothermal method following the characteristics of controllable cation structure and exchangeable anion between layers. The properties of the films were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). XRD and SEM results indicate that the Al-Li LDH films are successfully prepared on LA51 alloys. The contact angle (CA) was measured to be about 100.7°, indicating that the surface wettability of the film converted from hydrophilic to hydrophobic by surface modification. The corrosion resistance of Al-Li LDH films was evaluated by Tafel polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Surprisingly, Tafel polarization curve and EIS test reveal that the Al-Li LDH films prepared at the molar ratio of Li+/Al3+ 1:2, pH 11.5 and temperature 125 °C have better corrosion resistance in 0.1 M NaCl neutral solution. In addition, the formation mechanism and corrosion mechanism of the films on the surface of LA51 alloy are also proposed. It provides innovative synthetic materials and novel design ideas for the preparation of high-efficiency anti-corrosion coatings on LA51 alloys, whose application can be extended in industrial fields.