Incorporation of Anions into Anodic Alumina—A New Track in Cr(VI) Anodizing Substitution?

Abstract

Aluminum technical alloys are well known for their outstanding mechanical properties, especially after heat treatment. However, quenching and aging, which improve the mechanical properties, by the formation of Cu-rich zones and phases that are coherent with the matrix and block the dislocation motion, cause uneven distribution of the elements in the alloy and consequently make it prone to corrosion. One method providing satisfactory corrosion protection of aluminum alloys is anodizing. On an industrial scale, it is usually carried out in electrolytes containing chromates that were found to be cancerogenic and toxic. Therefore, much effort has been undertaken to find substitutions. Currently, there are many Cr(VI)-free substitutes like tartaric–sulfuric acid anodizing or citric–sulfuric acid anodizing. Despite using such approaches even on the industrial scale, Cr(VI)-based anodizing still seems to be superior; therefore, there is an urge to find more complex but more effective approaches in anodizing. The incorporation of anions into anodic alumina from the electrolytes is a commonly known effect. Researchers used this phenomenon to entrap various other anions and organic compounds into anodic alumina to change their properties. In this review paper, the impact of the incorporation of various corrosion inhibitors into anodic alumina on the corrosion performance of the alloys is discussed. It is shown that Mo compounds are promising, especially when combined with organic acids.