An important possibility to improve the corrosion behaviour of magnesium alloys is the application of protective coatings. The quality of such coatings depends mainly on the pretreatment and the exposure conditions after pretreatment. Since magnesium surfaces change much faster under atmospheric conditions than those of almost any other technical material, it is necessary to pay special attention to this particular feature. The activity of acid-pickled surfaces of the magnesium alloys AZ31 and AZ91 in dependence on the exposure time and the humidity conditions was investigated with electrochemical noise (EN) measurements. In addition to pickling, plasma chemical vapour deposition processes open new possibilities for an economical, as well as ecologically quite safe, pretreatment. The results of EN investigations after acid pickling as well as specific plasma oxidation treatments of the two magnesium alloys after exposure to air with different humidities are presented.
Evaluation and Screening of the pre-treatment states of Mg-alloys using Electrochemical Noise
(2009)
A successful application of magnesium alloys as light structural materials and for special applications,
such as in the medical sector, depends significantly on their corrosion properties. Since the use of
well-chosen surface coating systems can optimize these properties, many efforts are going in this
direction. In general, any coating process must be seen in a close connection to the pre-treatment of
the alloy surface, particularly for magnesium alloys.
The pre-treatment is required to prepare the optimal surface for a coating system, in which adhesion
and dissolution behaviour are the central properties. In the case of magnesium alloys this means a
well-controlled removal of the casting or rolling skin, which would be prone to corrosion and poor
adhesion. Additionally, in most cases the surface morphology should be smooth. An investigation of
different pickling solutions and pickling parameters showed a wide range of effectiveness (i.e., the
resulting mass loss and surface morphology). Another important and often underestimated fact is the
comparatively strong tendency of magnesium to react with the atmosphere. For that reason, after a
completed pickling and cleaning treatment the condition of the surrounding atmosphere and the time
prior to coating of the surface should be taken into account because of the formation of different
reaction layers. These layers have an effect on adhesion and the corrosion properties of the coating
system as a whole. For a documentation of the influence of different atmospheres and the timedependence
of the surface activity the measurement of the electrochemical noise is the preferred
technique. This is because it shows instantaneously the actual activity, even in the absence of external
excitation. The influence of different pre-treatments as well as exposure conditions and duration was
investigated using electrochemical noise measurements as a screening method. As a result the pretreatment
which is an important part of the coating process could be considerably improved.
The development of organic coatings for corrosion protection is an elaborate process with a multitude of often interminable investigations and tests of protection properties. Electrochemical methods support the processes of development to a great extent and help to understand mechanisms of action and failure. They are usually carried out on applied coating systems with a completed formulation. An examination possibility is presented in this publication that enables the characterization of waterbased coatings with different formulation variations in the liquid (aqueous) state with the aid of electrochemical noise technique. Thus, selection of binders, pigments, and other additives is supported essentially and made more efficient in a very early Phase of formulation development. The paper shows that a unique insight into the dynamic processes of a metal in contact with an aqueous coating dispersion is possible using the example of the development of zinc-free corrosion-inhibiting pigments for waterbased coatings. In addition, it is presented in which way the results correlate with the performance of applied coatings.