Corrosion protection of AZ91D magnesium alloy with sol-gel coating containing 2-methyl piperidine

Sol-gel coatings were prepared using 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TMOS) as precursors, diethylentriamine as curing agent. Inhibition effect of 2-methyl piperidine on AZ91D in 0.005%, 0.05% and 0.5% (wt.%) NaCl solution is investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization tests revealed that 2-methyl piperidine significantly decreased the anodic activity of AZ91D especially at high concentration. Corrosion behaviors of sol-gel coatings incorporated with 2-methyl piperidine on AZ91D in the Harrison's solution were analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS results showed the corrosion resistance of sol-gel coatings and sol-gel sealed phosphate conversion coating on AZ91D were significantly improved through addition of 2-methyl piperidine. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) confirmed that the 2-methyl piperidine was compatible with sol-gel matrix.