The work in frame of MULTISURF project was focused on the surface modification of active metals (aluminum, magnesium and zinc) via LDH (layered double hydroxides) formation and it further functionalization via anion exchange reaction. Two main hybrid treatments for aluminum alloys have been in focus during MULTISURF project:
• Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in combination with LDH treatment. PEO is an advanced anodizing process leading to the formation of ceramic-like coatings under high-voltage discharges in eco-friendly alkaline electrolytes.
• Anodizing pretreatments (Tartaric sulfuric acid anodizing (TSA) and phosphoric sulfuric acid anodizing (PSA)), which is environmentally-friendly anodizing method, suitable for aeronautic application and developed for toxic Cr(VI) replacement, followed by LDH sealing.
For both of them, LDH-based sealing was used as a post-treatment in order to achieve active corrosion protection performed on aluminum alloy AA2024. The obtained results clearly demonstrate that such an active sealing enhances the total corrosion protection performance and ensure effective healing of the artificial defects suppressing active corrosion processes.
A principally novel approach was developed during the MULTISURF project for direct LDH growth on the surface of magnesium alloys. The modulators of Mg and Al solubility we applied in order to keep suitable concentration of required components for the LDH formation in the pH range, where LDH can be formed. This way let us overcome the principle problems, which significantly limited the possibility of its application for real industrial needs:
• No autoclave conditions are required for LDH formation anymore. This leads to significant increase of chance that LDH based conversion treatment will be adopted for automotive and aerospace application,
• No carbonates are required for LDH formation. In other words, the formation of functionalizable LDH is reached and confirmed.
Further, this approach was extended to the LDH growth on PEO Mg alloy AZ91 (Fig. S-1).
Within close collaboration between the partners of MUTISURF consortium, for a first time ZnAl LDH was synthesized directly on both pure zinc and zinc galvanized steel. The solubility of aluminum compound in electrolyte was found to be a critical issue for this synthesis. However, optimization of temperature, pH, time and other parameters let us perform this synthesis and load the formed LDH with corrosion inhibitors. This approach was further tested for corrosion protection and confirm its effectiveness. One can expect, that further optimization of the process parameters will let is possible the treatment of real automotive details against corrosion and effective LDH use for industrial application.
Overall, we have develop the number of systems, based on the LDH formation on surface of active aluminum, magnesium and zinc alloys (bare and pre-anodized), which are suitable for further functionalization (corrosion protection, corrosion sensing, hydrophobisation, etc.) and fulfill real industrial demands. This work was performed during the secondments (94,33%% of secondments was implemented). International, intersectorial and mixed secondments took place. Early stage researchers were actively involved in this process.
The obtained scientific results were distributed for a broad community via seminars, scientific publications (incl. Open Access publications), conferences and lecturing.