Magnetron-sputtered fluorocarbon polymeric film on magnesium for corrosion protection

Magnesium and magnesium alloys are widely used in the electronics, automobile and aerospace industry but the poor corrosion resistance has hindered some applications. In this work, a transparent fluorocarbon polymeric thin film is deposited on magnesium by magnetron sputtering and the corrosion resistance is evaluated. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in combination with immersion experiments in 3.5 wt% NaCl reveal markedly improved corrosion resistance. The corrosion mechanism is discussed from the perspective of random defects in the fluorocarbon film.