Development of “Stainless Aluminum”

Abstract

A process for surface modification of Al‐based materials is described which involves immersion in boiling and , followed by anodic polarization in a molybdate solution. Each of these three steps is carried out for 2 h. Al 6061 treated in this manner did not show any signs of uniform or localized corrosion during immersion in for 60 days. A sample with a scratch in the modified surface also did not show any corrosion after 25 days in . Since this surface modification process produces exceptional corrosion resistance, it should be considered as a candidate for the replacement of chromate conversion coatings.