Synthesis and Characterization of Hybrid Silica-Zirconia Coatings with Cerium Inhibitor on Aluminum 6061

Organic–inorganic hybrid coatings were prepared by sol–gel method and deposited on aluminum alloy 6061. Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used for structural study of the hybrid coatings. Adhesive strength of sol–gel coatings to the substrate was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. Corrosion behavior of the samples was studied by cyclic potentiodynamic and linear polarization tests. Results showed that adhesion strength of the coatings to the substrates was increased with increasing tetrapropoxide of zirconium (TPOZ) and cerium content. Corrosion tests showed that corrosion current density of coated samples were decreased three to seven orders of magnitude in comparison with uncoated aluminum alloy 6061. Decreasing in corrosion current density and increasing in polarization resistance was observed by increasing zirconia and cerium content. Unlike the uncoated aluminum alloy 6061, the crack-free coatings did not show pitting tendency.