Cerium tartrate as a corrosion inhibitor for AA 2024-T3

• Cerium tartrate was found to be an effective inhibitor for AA 2024-T3.
• Both anodic and cathodic inhibitions were present during the corrosion process.
• The corrosion of Al2CuMg phase was well inhibited by cerium tartrate.

A new corrosion inhibitor, cerium tartrate, was synthetized. The inhibition behavior of cerium tartrate for 2024-T3 aluminum alloy was investigated in 0.05 M NaCl solution. The immersion tests indicate that the corrosion of Al2CuMg phase was well inhibited. The electrochemical results show that both anodic and cathodic inhibitions are present during the corrosion process. The surface characterizations reveal that the protective film of cerium tartrate inhibits the dealloying of Al2CuMg phase in the initial stage, and then cerium ions transform to cerium oxide/hydroxides and appear at the Al2CuMg phase, blocking the further corrosion at those corrosion sites.