Structural characterization and properties of lanthanum film as chromate replacement for tinplate

Sulfide-stain resistance of La-passivated, unpassivated and Cr-passivated tinplate was measured using a cysteine tarnish test. Corrosion behavior of these tinplates was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. The morphology, composition and thickness of lanthanum film were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), respectively. La-passivation treatment remarkably enhances sulfide-stain resistance of tinplate, and sulfide-stain resistance of La-passivated tinplate is slightly higher than that of Cr-passivated tinplate. La-passivation treatment also significantly improves corrosion protection property of tinplate. In contact with 3.5% NaCl solution, corrosion resistance of La-passivated tinplate is close to that of Cr-passivated tinplate, and in contact with 0.1 M citric-citrate buffer solution, corrosion resistance of La-passivated tinplate is higher than that of Cr-passivated tinplate. Lanthanum film is composed of spherical particles about 50-1000 nm in diameter, while most part of tinplate's surface is covered with the small particles about 50-200 nm. The film mainly consists of lanthanum and oxygen, which mainly exist as La₂O₃ and its hydrates such as La(OH)₃ and LaOOH. The amount of lanthanum in the film is about 0.0409 g/m².