Electrodeposited cerium film as chromate replacement for tinplate

The cerium film was prepared on tinplate by electrodeposition method. Sulfide-stain resistance of the Ce-passivated, unpassivated and Cr-passivated tinplates was evaluated using a cysteine tarnish test. Corrosion behavior of these tinplates in contact with 3.5% NaCl solution and 0.1 M citric–citrate buffer solution was investigated using Tafel measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement, respectively. The adhesion of epoxyphenolic lacquer to the Ce-passivated tinplate was checked using a cross hatch cutter. The morphology, composition and thickness of the cerium film were studied by atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. According to the results, the Ce-passivated tinplate shows the best sulfide-stain resistance and the best corrosion protection property compared with the unpassivated and Cr-passivated tinplates. The adhesion of epoxyphenolic lacquer to the Ce-passivated tinplate is good. The cerium film is composed of the closely packed particles of about 50–200 nm in diameter. The film mainly consists of cerium and oxygen, which mainly exist as CeO2, Ce2O3 and their hydrates such as Ce(OH)4, Ce(OH)3. The total cerium amount of the film is about 0.110 g/m2.