Protective Cerium-Based Layered Double Hydroxides Thin Films Developed on Anodized AA6082

Abstract

In this work, CeMgAl-LDHs protective thin films were developed directly on the anodized aluminum surface, and on the “hot water-sealed” anodized aluminum specimens. The synthesized coatings were investigated by SEM-EDS and XRD and through long-term electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) spectra. The growth of CeMgAl-LDHs into/onto the micropores/defects of anodized film was found to significantly improve the LDH barrier properties with delaying coating degradation compared to LDHs developed on the “hot water-sealed” surface. The unmodified LDHs “without cerium addition” were also developed to compare the influence of cerium on the structural and electrochemical properties of LDHs. It is also noteworthy that LDHs grown on the anodized surface provided dense and finer growth, while the addition of cerium ions was found to exhibit influential higher long-term corrosion resistance properties after the 1200 h immersion period.