Role of Post-Treatment in Improved Corrosion Behavior of Trivalent Chromium Protection (TCP) Coating Deposited on Aluminum Alloy 2024-T3

The effects of post-treatment applied on Trivalent Chromium Protection (TCP) coatings deposited on aluminum alloy 2024-T3 was studied by electrochemical and surface analytical techniques: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The aim of the post-treatment was to improve the corrosion resistance of the TCP coating. To understand the influence of the post-treatment, using a bath containing H2O2 and a lanthanum salt as an inhibitor, our approach was to study the effect of these two components separately. It was found that the improved corrosion protection provided by the post-treated TCP was related to a synergetic effect of the two components. XPS and ToF-SIMS analyses showed that (i) the thickness of the TCP coating is not modified by the post-treatment, (ii) lanthanum is present on the surface and in the bulk of the TCP and (iii) is found in very small amount only on the extreme surface. The total concentration of Cr(VI) (oxide/hydroxide) was estimated to be below 0.1 wt% in the post-treated TCP layer. It was concluded that lanthanum plays a significant role in improving the coating density and homogeneity and has a beneficial effect on the TCP coating cracking as observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy.