Evaluation of Low-Toxic Hybrid Sol-Gel Coatings with Organic pH-Sensitive Inhibitors for Corrosion Protection of AA2024 Aluminium Alloy

• Published in: Gels Vol. 9; no. 4; p. 294
• Main Authors: Jaldo Serrano, Eva, López-Sánchez, Jesús, García-Galván, Federico, Serrano, Aida, Rodríguez de la Fuente, Óscar, Barranco, Violeta, Galván, Juan Carlos, Carmona, Noemí
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.04.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: AA2024 aluminium alloy; Air quality management; Alloys; Aluminum; Aluminum base alloys; Analysis; chlorophenol red; Coatings; Corrosion; Corrosion and anti-corrosives; Corrosion environments; Corrosion inhibitors; Corrosion prevention; Corrosion tests; Emission standards; Environmental aspects; Hydrogen-ion concentration; Intermetallic compounds; Light metal alloys; Methylene blue; Optical measuring instruments; protective coating; Protective coatings; Saline environments; sensor; Sensors; sol-gel; Sol-gel processes; Specialty metals industry; Spain; sensor; AA2024 aluminium alloy; chlorophenol red; corrosion inhibitors; protective coating; sol-gel
• ISSN: 2310-2861; 2310-2861
• DOI: 10.3390/gels9040294

Today's environmental needs require the reduction of the weight of vehicles, thus reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions. For this reason, the use of light alloys is being studied, which, due to their reactivity, must be protected before use. In this work, the effectiveness of a hybrid sol-gel coating doped with various organic environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors applied to an AA2024 lightweight aluminium alloy is evaluated. Some of the inhibitors tested are pH indicators, acting as both corrosion inhibitors and optical sensors for the surface of the alloy. Samples are subjected to a corrosion test in a simulated saline environment and characterised before and after the test. The experimental results regarding their best inhibitor performance for their potential application in the transport industry are evaluated.