Chromium Oxide/Cerium Oxide Nanocoating and Thermal Treatment to Enhance the Corrosion Resistance of 2024-T3 Aluminum Alloy for Industrial Applications

The objective of this work is to emphasize the significance of enhancing the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys by engineering their surfaces with a nanocoating layer, specifically through the design of a chromium oxide/cerium oxide (Cr₂O₃/CeO₂) nanocomposite (NCP). The separation method was employed to fabricate the CeO₂/Cr₂O₃ NCP coating, followed by a calcination step. The CeO₂/Cr₂O₃ nanocoating layer was developed through a thermal treatment at 600 °C to produce an anticorrosion coating suitable for various applications, including automotive and marine structures. The morphology and crystal structure of the nanocoating were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Electrochemical performance and surface morphology under seawater conditions were evaluated using a potentiostat system and FE-SEM. Furthermore, corrosion tests were performed on the coated Al-alloy in seawater, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) was utilized to monitor surface changes on the alloy resulting from the corrosion process. The results confirm the high effectiveness of the CeO₂/Cr₂O₃ nanocoating in providing corrosion protection under seawater conditions. Consequently, the CeO₂/Cr₂O₃ nanocoating can be considered a promising candidate for use as an anticorrosion layer in applications that demand durable and corrosion-resistant materials, particularly in harsh environments such as automotive and marine structures.