Corrosion Resistance of Electrochemically Synthesized Modified Zaccagnaite LDH-Type Films on Steel Substrates

Modified zaccagnaite layered double hydroxide (LDH) type films were synthesized on steel substrates by pulsed electrochemical deposition from aqueous solutions. The resulting films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy/X-ray dispersive spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Structural characterization indicated a pure layered double hydroxide phase; however, elemental analysis revealed that the surface of the films contained Zn:Al ratios outside the typical ranges of layered double hydroxides. Layer thickness for the deposited films ranged from approximately 0.4 to 3.0 μm. The corrosion resistance of the film was determined using potentiodynamic polarization experiments in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The corrosion current density for the coatings was reduced by 82% and the corrosion potential was shifted 126 mV more positive when 5 layers of modified LDH coatings were deposited onto the steel substrates. A mechanism was proposed for the corroding reactions at the coating.