Dissolution of cerium from cerium-based conversion coatings on Al 7075-T6 in 0.1 M NaCl solutions

Cerium-based conversion coatings (CeCCs) were immersed in 0.1 M NaCl for ∼500 h over a range of pH (2.0–5.7) to investigate the dissolution of cerium species. Dissolution was detected by UV–vis spectroscopy only in the pH 2 solution. Similar cerium concentrations were detected from the dissolution of as-deposited and phosphate post-treated CeCCs. Solubility diagrams for Ce(OH)3, Ce(OH)4, CeO2, and CePO4 showed that only Ce(OH)3 was soluble in acidic conditions. Although pKsp(CePO4) ≈ pKsp(Ce(OH)3), the dissolution of the post-treated CeCCs was slightly higher than the as-deposited CeCCs. Thus, corrosion protection of CeCCs is not provided solely by dissolution of cerium species.

► Dissolution of cerium from cerium-based conversion coatings (CeCCs) on Al 7075-T6. ► Immersion of CeCCs in 0.1 M NaCl showed dissolution only possible at pH ⩽ 2. ► Corrosion protection of CeCCs is not provided by dissolution of cerium species. ► CeCCs corrosion protection mechanism differ from chromate-based conversion coatings.