Formation of zinc phosphate coatings on AA6061 aluminum alloy

Abstract

Conditions for forming zinc phosphate conversion coatings on AA6061 aluminum alloy have been investigated by characterizing coatings formed for different parameters of the coating bath. Morphological and compositional information on the coatings was assessed by SEM, EDX and XPS, and simple adhesion tests were undertaken to indicate the strengths of coating attachment. The emphasis was to identify conditions that give high coverage, uniform coatings of small, strongly adhered, zinc phosphate crystals. The use of low-zinc solutions (e.g. an atomic Zn/P ratio of 0.07) and normal-zinc solutions (Zn/P ratio 0.25) were compared; coatings formed by the two solution types appear comparable at pH 2, although at pH 4 the low-zinc solution is more effective. Fluoride in the concentration range 200–400 ppm is indicated to be a useful additive for the normal-zinc coating bath and in the 600–1000 ppm range for the low-zinc process. The use of acid etching in the pre-treatment appears to yield better coatings than when mechanical polishing alone is used.