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In Situ crystallization to zinc aluminate films with controlled surface microstructure and anticorrosion performance
Author(s) -
Fan Guoli,
Li Feng
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.12781
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallization , aluminate , microstructure , chemical engineering , spinel , corrosion , zinc , aluminium , nanorod , nanoparticle , coating , nanotechnology , metallurgy , cement , engineering
Spinel‐type zinc aluminate (ZnAl 2 O 4 ) thin films with controlled surface microstructure on aluminum substrates were fabricated via a facile and effective in situ crystallization method without using any templates or surfactants. The surface microstructure of ZnAl 2 O 4 films could be significantly controlled by varying the experimental conditions including concentration of reactants, crystallization temperature, and crystallization time. After surface modification, the specific topography of ZnAl 2 O 4 films was beneficial to obtain surface hydrophobic or superhydrophobic properties. More importantly, compared to nanoparticle‐ and nanosword‐assembled ZnAl 2 O 4 films, nanorod‐assembled ZnAl 2 O 4 film provided a more effective barrier to aggressive species for aluminum substrates in a wide range of pH values; very low corrosion current density of the order of ∼10 −19 A cm −12 could be achieved. A new contribution to the development of advanced coating system with ZnAl 2 O 4 film materials that can be used in practical application for corrosion protection of aluminum materials is provided. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012