Influence of surface treatment on detachment of anodic films from Al–Mg alloys

Abstract Previous work of the authors has revealed detachment of anodic films during anodizing of electropolished, solid-solution Al–3 at.%Mg alloy at constant current density, with the possibility of the electropolishing pre-treatment having a significant influence on the loss of the film material. Here, anodic films were formed on a similar alloy, with pre-treatment by electropolishing, alkaline etching or mechanical polishing. The results disclose the detachment of the anodic film for all pre-treatments, thus demonstrating that prior electropolishing is not essential for initiation of detachment. However, the occurrence of detachment was sensitive to the current density, with lower current densities promoting detachment at earlier stages of growth of the anodic film for a particular pre-treatment.