Organic-inorganic hybrid coatings for corrosion protection of 1050 aluminum alloy

Organic-inorganic hybrid coatings based on sol-gel process have been developed for corrosion protection of 1050 aluminum alloys by dip coatings technique. The hybrid sols were prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of 3-glicidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) in the presence of an acidic catalyst. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been used as cross-linking agent. Structural characterization of the sol and cured hybrid were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. Corrosion resistance properties of the hybrid sol-gel coatings were studied by electrochemical and salt spray testing methods. The results indicate excellent barrier protection performance of the coatings.