Effects of acetic acid on microstructure and electrochemical properties of nano cerium oxide films coated on AA7020-T6 aluminum alloy

Nano cerium oxide films were applied on AA7020-T6 aluminum alloy and the effects of acetic acid concentration on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of the coated samples were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and potentiodynamic polarization methods. It has been found that by increasing the acetic acid/CeCl3·7H2O molar ratio, high uniform and crack-free films with well-developed grains were obtained and grain sizes of the films decreased. Elimination of cracks and decreasing grain size of the nano cerium oxide films caused corrosion resistance to increase.

Fabrication and characterization of anodic oxide films on a Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al titanium alloy

Anodic oxide films of the titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al in ammonium tartrate electrolyte without hydrofluoric acid or fluoride were fabricated. The morphology, components, and microstructure of the films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the films were thick, uniform, and nontransparent. Such films exhibited sedimentary morphology, with a thickness of about 3 μm, and the pore diameters of the deposits ranged from several hundred nanometers to 1.5 μm. The films were mainly titanium dioxide. Some coke-like deposits, which may contain or be changed by OH, NH, C-C, C-O, and C=O groups, were doped in the films. The films were mainly amorphous with a small amount of anatase and rutile phase.

Morphology and growth of porous anodic oxide films on Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al in neutral tartrate solution

Porous anodic oxide films were fabricated galvanostatically on titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al in ammonium tartrate solution with different anodizing time.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) were used to investigate the morphology evolution of the anodic oxide film.It is shown that above the breakdown voltage,oxygen is generated with the occurrence of drums morphology.These drums grow and extrude,which yields the compression stress.Subsequently,microcracks are generated.With continuous anodizing,porous oxides form at the microcracks.Those oxides grow and connect to each other,finally replace the microcrack morphology.The depth profile of the anodic oxide film formed at 1 800 s was examined by Auger electron spectroscopy(AES).It is found that the film is divided into three layers according to the molar fractions of elements.The outer layer is incorporated by carbon,which may come from electrolyte solution.The thickness of the outer layer is approximately 0.2-0.3 μm.The molar fractions of elements in the intermediate layer are extraordinarily stable,while those in the inner layer vary significantly with sputtering depth.The thicknesses of the intermediate layer and the inner layer are 2 μm and 1.0-1.5 μm,respectively.Moreover,the growth mechanism of porous anodic oxide films in neutral tartrate solution was proposed.

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.

EIS Characterization of Sealed Anodic Oxide Films on Titanium Alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

Anodic oxide films grown on titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al in the solution of sodium tartrate, then sealed in boiling deionised water and calcium acetate solution were observed by using field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM）, and were chemically analysed by using energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）. Corrosion behaviour was investigated in a 3.5% sodium chloride solution, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）. The morphology of the anodic oxide films was dependent on the sealing processes. The surface sealed in calcium acetate solution presented a more homogeneous and smooth structure compared with that sealed in boiling deionised water. The corrosion resistance of the oxide films sealed in calcium acetate solution was better than that sealed in boiling deionised water.

Evolution of insoluble eutectic Si particles in anodic oxidation films during adipic–sulfuric acid anodizing processes of ZL114A aluminum alloys

The effects of insoluble eutectic Si particles on the growth of anodic oxide films on ZL114A aluminum alloy substrates were in- vestigated by optical microscopy （OM） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The anodic oxidation was performed at 25℃ and a con- stant voltage of 15 V in a solution containing 50 g/L sulfuric acid and 10 g/L adipic acid. The thickness of the formed anodic oxidation film was approximately 7.13 μm. The interpore distance and the diameters of the major pores in the porous layer of the film were within the ap- proximate ranges of 10~20 nm and 5-10 nm, respectively. Insoluble eutectic Si particles strongly influenced the morphology of the anodic oxidation films. The anodic oxidation films exhibited minimal defects and a uniform thickness on the ZL114A substrates; in contrast, when the front of the oxide oxidation films encountered eutectic Si particles, defects such as pits and non-uniform thickness were observed, and pits were observed in the films.

Influence of Surface Oxide Films on Elastic Behaviors of Straight Screw Dislocations Parallel to the Surface of Pure Aluminum

The image stress of straight screw dislocations parallel to the medium surface covered by thin heterogeneous films was analyzed and deduced, in order to calculate the image shear stress. The relationship between image stress and distance from the screw dislocation to the interface of pure aluminum and its oxide covering was calculated based on the analysis. It was shown quantitatively that a sign conversion of the image stress appears in the case of thin oxide covering, while dislocation would pile up near the interface because of the possible slips of the screw dislocations induced by the image stress, which might break down the very thin oxide covering. Further investigation on edge dislocations or other dislocation configurations need to be done.

Preparation and Properties of Al-Ni Composite Anodic Films on Aluminum Surface

Ni element was introduced to aluminum surface by a simple chemical immersion method, and A1-Ni composite anodic films were obtained by following anodizing. The morphology, structure and composition of the A1-Ni anodic films were examined by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy disperse spectroscopy （EDS） and atomic force microscopy（AFM）. The electrochemical behaviors of the films were studied by means of polarization measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）. The experimental results show that the A1-Ni composite anodic film is more compact with smaller pore diameters than that of the A1 anodic film. The introduction of nickel increases the impedances of both the barrier layer and the porous layer of the anodic films. In NaC1 solutions, the A1-Ni composite anodic films show higher impedance values and better corrosion resistance.

Effects of the Annealing Heating Rate on Sputtered Aluminum Oxide Films

AlxOy films by DC reactive magnetron sputtering were annealed in air ambient at 500 ℃for 1 h with different heating rates of 5,15,and 25 ℃/min.Then heat treatments at 900 ℃ were carried out on these 500 ℃-annealed films to simulate the high-temperature application environment.Effects of the annealing heating rate on structure and properties of both 500 ℃-annealed and 900 ℃-heated films were investigated systematically.It was found that distinct γ-Al2O3 crystallization was observed in the 900 ℃-heated films only when the annealing heating rates are 15 and 25 ℃/min.The 500 ℃-annealed film possessed the most compact surface morphology in the case of 25 ℃/min.The highest microhardness of both 500 ℃-annealed and 900℃-heated films were obtained when the annealing heating rate was 15 ℃/min.

Formation and Morphology of Anodic Oxide Films of Ti

The morphology and structure of the oxide films of Ti in H3PO4 were investigated by galvanos tatic anodization, SEM and XRD. The oxide film grew from some pores in the grooves to layered microdomains as increasing anodizing voltage. The crystallinity of the oxide films decreased with the increase of the concentration of the electrolyte. The model has been proposed for the growth of the oxide films by two steps, i.e. by uniform thickening and by local deposition.

Macroscopic Studies on the Properties of the Anodic Oxide Films on Titanium

The effect of fluoride ions on the formation and dissolution behaviour of anodic oxide films on Ti has been investigated in acidic fluoride media (pH=1) using impedance and galvanostatic techniques. A5 the fluoride ion concentration and temperature increase the rate of oxide film formation decreases while the dissolution process increases. oxide film formed at high tem-perature and formation voltage was found to contain more defect sites in the film than that formed at a lower one. Activation energies are calculated during the oxide film formation and dissolution and found to be 20.76 and 28.72 kJ/mol, respectively. Formation rate and reciprocal capacitance data are reported as a function of polarizing current density. Values are recorded for the electrolytic parameters A and B. Potentiostatic curves are derived from the galvanostatic results.

Photocatalytic activity of porous TiO_2 films prepared by anodic oxidation

Anatase titanium dioxide is an active photocatalyst, however, it is difficult to be immobilized on the substrate. The crystalline TiO2 porous film was prepared directly on the surface of pure titanium by anodic oxidation. The film was then used for photocatalysis via the methyl orange degradation method. The effects of anodization voltage, pH value, TiO2 film area and degradation time on the photocatalyst were investigated respectively by UV-visible spectrum. It was indicated that the TiO2 film prepared by anodic oxidation at 140 V had the best photocatalysis capability and the degradation of methyl orange was accelerated with acid addition.

Electrodeposited Ni,Fe,Co and Cu single and multilayer nanowire arrays on anodic aluminum oxide template

The Ni, Fe, Co and Cu single and multilayer nanowire arrays to make perpendicular magnetic recording media were fabricated with nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates from Watt solution and additives by the DC electrodeposition. The results show that the diameters of Ni, Fe, Co and Cu single and multilayer nanowires in AAO templates are 40-80 nm and the lengths are about 30 μm with the aspect ratio of 350-750. The magnetic properties of the prepared nanowires are different under different electrodepositing conditions. The remanences (Br) of Ni/Cu/Fe multilayer nanowires are lower than those of others multilayer nanowires, and coercivity (Hc) of Ni/Cu/Fe multilayer nanowires are lower than those of others multilayer nanowires. These are compatible with the required conditions of high density magnetic media devices that should have the low coercivity to easily success magnetization and high remanence to keep magnetization after removal of magnetic field.

Nucleation of Fe-Rich Intermetallic Phases on α-Al_(2)O_(3) Oxide Films in Al-Si Alloys

Nucleation of Fe-rich intermetallic phases on α-Al2O3 oxide films was analyzed in five experimental Al-Fe-Mn-Si alloys. In an attempt to verify the role of α-Al2O3 films in nucleating Fe-rich intermetallics, experiments have been conducted under conditions where formed in situ oxide films were present. Some Fe-rich intermetallics are observed to be related with the oxide films in the microstructure, the present results are in accordance with some research that suggest that the Fe-rich intermetallic phases nucleate upon the oxide films. The intermetallic phases and α-Al2O3 films were unambiguously identified with the help of complementary techniques such as thermal analysis, SEM/EDS and X-ray diffraction.

Magnetic behaviors of cerium oxide-based thin films deposited using electrochemical method

Zn and Co multi-doped CeO2 thin films have been prepared using an anodic electrochemical method. The structures and magnetic behaviors are characterized by several techniques, in which the oxygen states in the lattice and the absorptive oxygen bonds at the surface are carefully examined. The absorptive oxygen bond is about 50% of the total oxygen bond by using a semi-quantitative method. The value of actual stoichiometry δ′ is close to 2. The experimental results indicate that the thin films are of a cerium oxide-based solid solution with few oxygen vacancies in the lattice and many absorptive oxygen bonds at the surface. Week ferromagnetic behaviors were evidenced by observed M-H hysteresis loops at room temperature. Furthermore, an evidence of relative ferromagnetic contributions was revealed by the temperature dependence of magnetization. It is believed that the ferromagnetic contributions exhibited in the M-H loops originate from the absorptive oxygen on the surface rather than the oxygen vacancies in the lattice.

Effects of boric acid on microstructure and corrosion resistance of boric/sulfuric acid anodic film on 7050 aluminum alloy

The microstructure and corrosion resistance of different boric/sulfuric acid anodic（BSAA） films on 7050 aluminum alloy were studied by atomic force microscopy（AFM）,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy（EIS） and scanning Kelvin probe（SKP）.The results show that boric acid does not change the structure of barrier layer of anodic film,but will significantly affect the structure of porous layer,consequently affect the corrosion resistance of anodic film.As the content of boric acid in electrolyte increases from 0 to 8 g/L,the resistance of porous layer（Rp） of BSAA film increases,the capacitance of porous layer（CPEp） decreases,the surface potential moves positively,the pore size lessens,and the corrosion resistance improves.However,the Rp,CPEp and surface potential will change towards opposite direction when the content of boric acid is over 8 g/L.

Influence of oxidation heat on hard anodic film of aluminum alloy

The special experimental device and sulfuric acid electrolyte were adopted to study the influence of anodic oxidation heat on hard anodic film for 2024 aluminum alloy. Compared with the oxidation heat transferred to the electrolyte through anodic film, the heat transferred to the coolant through aluminum substrate is more beneficial to the growth of anodic film. The film forming speed, film thickness, density and hardness are significantly increased as the degree of undercooling of the coolant increases. The degree of undercooling of the coolant, which is necessary for the growth of anodic film, is related to the degree of undercooling of the electrolyte, thickness of aluminum substrate, thickness of anodic film, natural parameters of bubble covering and current density. The microstructure and performance of the oxidation film could be controlled by the temperature of the coolant.

Oxide film on bubble surface of aluminum foams produced by gas injection foaming process

Based on A356 aluminum alloy,aluminum foams were prepared by gas injection foaming process with pure nitrogen,air and some gas mixtures.The oxygen volume fraction of these gas mixtures varied from 0.2%to 8.0%.Optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and Auger electron spectroscopy（AES） were used to analyze the influence of oxygen content on cell structure,relative density,macro and micro morphology of cell walls,coverage area fraction of oxide film,thickness of oxide film and other aspects.Results indicate that the coverage area fraction of oxide film on bubble surface increases with the increase of oxygen content when the oxygen volume is less than 1.2%.While when the oxygen volume fraction is larger than 1.6%,an oxide film covers the entire bubble surface and aluminum foams with good cell structure can be produced.The thicknesses of oxide films of aluminum foams produced by gas mixtures containing 1.6%-21%oxygen are almost the same.The reasons why the thickness of oxide film nearly does not change with the variation of oxygen content and the amount of oxygen needed to achieve 100%coverage of oxide film are both discussed.In addition,the role of oxide film on bubble surface in foam stability is also analyzed.

Oxidation kinetics of oxide film on bubble surface of aluminum foams produced by gas injection foaming process

In the range of 620？710 °C, air was blown into A356 aluminum alloy melt to produce aluminum foams. In order to study the influence of temperature on the thickness of oxide film on bubble surface, Auger electron spectroscopy （AES） was used. Based on the knowledge of corrosion science and hydrodynamics, two oxidation kinetics models of oxide film on bubble surface were established. The thicknesses of oxide films produced at different temperatures were predicted through those two models. Furthermore, the theoretical values were compared with the experimental values. The results indicate that in the range of 620？710 °C, the theoretical values of the thickness of oxide film predicted by the model including the rising process are higher than the experimental values. While, the theoretical values predicted by the model without the rising process are in good agreement with the experimental values, which shows this model objectively describes the oxidation process of oxide film on bubble surface. This work suggests that the oxidation kinetics of oxide film on bubble surface of aluminum foams produced by gas injection foaming process follows the Arrhenius equation.

Effect of intermetallic phases on the anodic oxidation and corrosion of 5A06 aluminum alloy

Intermetallic phases were found to influence the anodic oxidation and corrosion behavior of 5A06 aluminum alloy. Scattered in- termetallic particles were examined by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS） after pretreatment. The anodic film was investigated by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and its corrosion resistance was analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） and Tafel polarization in NaC1 solution. The results show that the size of A1-Fe-Mg-Mn particles gradually decreases with the iron content. During anodizing, these intermetallic particles are gradually dissolved, leading to the complex porosity in the anodic film beneath the particles. After anodizing, the residual particles are mainly silicon-containing phases, which are embedded in the an- odic film. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the porous anodic film layer is easily penetrated, and the barrier plays a dominant role in the overall protection. Meanwhile, self-healing behavior is observed during the long immersion time.