AVS 51st International Symposium
    Advanced Surface Engineering Monday Sessions
       Session SE-MoM

Paper SE-MoM10
Evaluation of Plasma Polymer Coatings in Corrosion Protection of Aluminum Alloys

Monday, November 15, 2004, 11:20 am, Room 303D

Session: Nanolayered and Gradient Coatings for Surface Engineering
Presenter: Q.S. Yu, University of Missouri-Columbia
Authors: Q.S. Yu, University of Missouri-Columbia
Y.F. Chan, University of Missouri-Columbia
H.K. Yasuda, University of Missouri-Columbia
Correspondent: Click to Email
As a pretreatment method, chromate conversion coatings are being widely used for corrosion protection of aircraft aluminum alloys. Pretreatment by chromate conversion layer is used to ensure good paint adhesion and provide corrosion inhibition. Due to the hazardous and toxic effects of chromates to environment and human heath, however, pressure from EPA has promoted research efforts focusing on the replacement of chromate conversion coatings with more environmentally friend systems. One promising alternative method is the use of plasma polymer coatings as pretreatment for metallic materials. Plasma polymerization process is a dry and â?ogreenâ? process which can produce high quality and chemically inert coatings with strong adherence to various substrates including metallic materials. Our recent studies have demonstrated that interface engineered plasma coating systems provide excellent corrosion protection of various aircraft Al alloys. In this study, the roles of plasma polymer coatings in interface engineering and fabrication of environmentally benign coating systems are further investigated. Electrochemical measurements including potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are employed to characterize the corrosion resistance and interface properties of plasma coated Al alloys. The results obtained through this study will be presented and discussed.