An investigation of the influence of physical vapour deposited aluminium layers on the kinetics of organic coating disbondment on iron

• Published in: Corrosion science Vol. 70; pp. 82 - 92
• Main Authors: Reynolds, G.J., Barrett, Z.S., McMurray, H.N., Williams, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Iron; A. Sputtered films; Applied sciences; C. Atmospheric corrosion; C. Oxygen reduction; C. Polymer coatings; Corrosion; Corrosion environments; Exact sciences and technology; Metals. Metallurgy; Nonmetallic coatings; Production techniques; Surface treatment; A. Iron; C. Polymer coatings; C. Oxygen reduction; C. Atmospheric corrosion; A. Sputtered films; Polymer; Non metal coating; Sputtering; Surface treatment; Chemical reduction; Physical vapor deposition; Kinetics; Organic compounds; Atmospheric corrosion
• ISSN: 0010-938X; 1879-0496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2013.01.015

► Thin PVD-deposited aluminium was investigated as a cathodic blocking layer on iron. ► A high-throughput method was used to study the influence of Al layer thickness. ► Samples comprising a wedge of increasing Al layer thickness were organic coated. ► In situ scanning Kelvin probe data was used to quantify rates of underfilm corrosion. ► Organic coating delamination was halted using Al thicknesses 15nm or greater.
A high-throughput method of investigating organic coating delamination from iron substrates incorporating interfacial thin metallic films of varying thickness is presented. Physical vapour deposited aluminium is demonstrated as a means of limiting underfilm oxygen reduction and slowing rates of corrosion-driven cathodic disbondment. A wedge of graded thickness is deposited on an iron surface and over-coated with a model organic layer. After initiating corrosion by applying corrosive electrolyte to a penetrative defect, rates of corrosion-driven delamination are determined by in situ scanning Kelvin probe measurements, enabling the influence of a range of Al thicknesses to be studied on a single sample.