The improvement of corrosion resistance of Ce conversion films on aluminum alloy by phosphate post-treatment

A phosphate post-treatment process for Ce conversion film on aluminum was studied. SEM (scanning electronic microscope), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and electrochemical measurements were used to characterize the properties of the films. After the post-treatment the micro-cracks on the film surface obviously diminished, and corrosion resistance of the conversion film in NaCl solution increased. The conversion film, without post-treatment, was mainly composed of hydrated cerium oxides, and the dehydration of the film may cause cracking of the films. After phosphate treatment, stable cerium phosphate CePO₄ was formed on the surface, and the content of crystal water decreased greatly, leading to improvement of the film performance with less micro-cracks.