Protective action towards aluminium corrosion by silanes with a long aliphatic chain

A noticeable and persistent protective action towards aluminium corrosion can be obtained by treatments with silane molecules containing a long aliphatic chain (e.g., n-octadecyl-trimethoxy-silane, C18), which can markedly increase the barrier properties of the silanic coating. At variance with other silanic compounds, the layer of C18, although not uniform, tends to cover the whole aluminium surface completely and, in fact, its EIS spectra initially present one time constant only. It is likely that v.d.Waals interactions between the alkyl chains of C18 can lead to the formation of a polymolecular layer. The aqueous salt solutions may permeate through this layer, but with greater difficulties than in the case of an efficient di-silyl derivative (e.g., 1,2-bis-trioxymethyl-silyl-ethane, BTSE). C18 coatings noticeably retard not only the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction, but also the anodic metal oxidation process. A very prolonged action is also found towards the pitting process in the particularly aggressive chloride solution.