Alkaline Corrosion Resistance of Anodized Aluminum Coated with Zirconium Oxide by a Sol-Gel Process

To improve the alkaline corrosion resistance of aluminum, composite films were prepared that consisted of a porous layer of anodically grown aluminum oxide filled with zirconium oxide, with a zirconium oxide coating layer that was deposited thereon via the sol—gel process, using a dip-coating technique. The alkaline corrosion resistance of these composite films was extremely improved when this coating layer was placed on an anodic oxide film. Comparisons of the composite film and conventional anodic oxide film showed that the alkaline corrosion resistance of the composite film was increased by a factor of 24–50. Because these composite films, which have high corrosion resistance, indicated a vibration phenomenon of voltage in the duration time curve of the electromotive force measurement, the composite film had a self-repairing action for alkaline corrosion.