Development and performance of hybrid coatings on aluminium alloy

From gravimetric studies, hybrid nano-coatings, based on permanganate/fluo­ride/gly­cerol conversion coating solutions formed on aluminum alloy by immersion procedures developed rapidly at a rate which decreased with time of treatment and was about 16 mg in weight after a period of three minutes. The morphology of the coating during scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examinations revealed randomly shaped coating materials with mud cracking patterns, characteristics of dried out coatings derived from gel-like materials. Analyses of the coating using EDX attachment in the SEM showed that it was composed essentially of aluminum, oxygen and manganese compounds, probably hydrated. The corrosion resistance of the coating out-performed ‘bare’ aluminum alloy specimens exposed to natural environment and 1 M sodium chloride solution. The coating improved the paint adhesion characteristics of the substrate aluminum alloy.