Preparation of anodic films on 2024 aluminum alloy in boric acid-containing mixed electrolyte

The anodizing oxidation process on 2024 aluminum alloy was researched in the mixed electrolyte with the composition of 30 g/L boric acid, 2 g/L sulfosalicylic acid and 8 g/L phosphate. The results reveal that the pre-treatment and the composition of the mixed electrolyte have influence on the properties of the films and the anodizing oxidation process. Under the condition of controlled potential, the anodizing oxidation current—time response curve displays “saddle” shape. First, the current density reaches a peak value of 8–20 A/dm2 and then decreases rapidly, finally maintains at 1–2 A/dm2. The film prepared in the mixed electrolyte is of porous-type with 20 nm in pore size and 500 μm−2 in porosity. Compared with the conventional anodic film obtained in sulfuric acid, the pore wall of the porous layer prepared in this work is not continuous, which seems to be deposited by small spherical grains. This porous structure of the anodic film may result from the characteristics of the mixed electrolyte and the special anodizing oxidation process. The surface analysis displays that the anodic film is amorphous and composed of O, Al, C, P, S, Si and no copper element is detected.