Investigation of Cr(III) Based Conversion Coatings On Electrogalvanised Steel

The corrosion behaviour of Cr(III) based conversion coatings on electrogalvanised steel was studied using polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements in 0.01M NaCl solution (pH 6). The Cr(III) based conversion treatments were carried out in two different commercial trivalent chromium baths (pH 1.8–2.0). With an immersion time of 1 min, the thickness of the first type of Cr(III) based coating (blue) was about 94 nm and the thickness of the second type of coating (iridescent yellow) was about 250 nm; these thicknesses were determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry. As a comparison, a Cr(VI) based coating on electrogalvanised steel was also studied. The morphologies and compositions of the coatings were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. The Cr(III) coatings contained mainly a mixture of zinc oxides and chromium oxides/ hydroxides, and no Cr(VI) was detected in these coatings. The polarisation measurements in NaCl solution showed a retarded cathodic reaction for both the Cr(III) and the Cr(VI) based coatings. The corrosion resistance of the thicker Cr(III) coating was greater than that of the thinner Cr(III) coating. However, in the cases studied, the Cr(III) coatings still did not inhibit the corrosion of the electrogalvanised steel as effectively as did the Cr(VI) based coatings. The reason may be that the Cr(III) coatings do not possess the ‘self-healing’ properties that the Cr(VI) based coatings do.