Zinc phosphating of 6061-Al alloy using REN as additive

Zinc phosphate coating formed on 6061-Al alloy was studied with the help of electrochemical measurements, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), after dipping it in phosphating solutions containing different concentrations of Rare Earth Nitrate (REN). REN, which acted as an accelerator in the phosphating solution, could catalyze the surface reaction and accelerate the phosphating process. REN mainly enabled the P in the phosphate coating to exist in the form of PO43 and promoted the hydrolysis of phosphatic acid in a liquid layer at the cathodes. This resulted in the evolution of H2 at the cathodes, which increased the local pH value and in turn drove the precipitation of the phosphate coating. Additionally. REN was adsorbed on the surface of the aluminum substrates to form a gel during the phosphating process. These gel particles were good crystal seeds, which helped to form phosphate crystal nuclei and possess the function of a nucleation agent that could decrease the phosphate crystal size. The corrosion resistance of the formed zinc phosphate coatings was improved.