Evaluation of the Growth Mechanism of Ti-Containing Conversion Coatings Using XPS

Abstract

Ti-containing coatings as chromate replacement were prepared on electrogalvanized steel. Zinc coatings were deposited from a weak acid chloride bath. Cr-free conversion coatings were deposited from bath composed of: TiCl3, H2SiF6, H2O2 and oxalic acid. XPS was used to evaluate chemical composition of the coatings as a function of deposition time. Deposited coating were of conversion type. Regardless of the achieved conversion coating thickness, Zn from the substrate was always present. In the coatings were identified: Zn2SiO4 / Zn4Si2O7(OH)2, ZnTiO3, ZnO, Zn (OH)2, Zn0, SiOx and Ti-O-Si in varying proportions. The chemical composition of the outer surface of the coating depended on deposition time, e.g. in a time interval 0-300 s 30 fold increase of the Si:Ti ratio and 20 fold of the Si:Zn ratio were observed. Estimated thickness of conversion coating was 3, 14, 35, and 100 nm for the time deposition of 1, 40, 80 and 300 s respectively. It is the proposed model for distinguishing Zn (0) phase from Zn (2+) quantitatively, based on the Zn L3M45M45 spectrum. The composition of the ZnTiSi conversion coating determined its mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Standard tests carried out showed that the coatings obtained at the time of 20-40 s had the best corrosion performance and mechanical resistance