Chromate-free conversion coating

Abstract

“Chromium free” aluminium conversion treatments usually produce a very thin chemical conversion layer; moreover they do not possess the well known inhibition properties of chromates. Hence, the corrosion protection of the substrate is, in general, less effective than that offered by the thicker chromate layers. However, the aluminium/paint adhesion is noticeably improved by the use of fluotitanate pretreatment baths. Our previous works also showed that the behaviour of fluotitanate pretreatments can be similar to that of chromatized aluminium surfaces when the aluminium is painted with a protective thermoplastic polyester resin. The aim of this work is to study new bath formulations and treatment procedures in order to further improve the effectiveness of this kind of environmentally friendly aluminium pretreatment. Some production parameters such as surface degreasing and pickling, pH and salt concentration of the bath and time of immersion were varied in order to obtain more efficient conversion layers. Aluminium alloy sheets were pretreated in fluotitanate baths and for comparison, in traditional chromate baths or they were only degreased and pickled; these samples were then studied with and without the application of organic coatings by the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The painted samples were coated with epoxy or vinyl resin types. The coatings were kept sufficiently thin (10–20 μm) in order to speed up undercoating corrosion thus highlighting the pretreatment action. By the use of proper testing solutions and of suitable fitting procedures of the impedance data, it was possible to identify the contribution of the pretreatment to the corrosion resistance of the painted aluminium alloys.