Atmospheric and Marine Corrosion of PEO and Composite Coatings Obtained on Al-Cu-Mg Aluminum Alloy.

Wrought Al-Cu-Mg aluminum alloy (D16) was treated by bipolar plasma electrolytic oxidation to create a base plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO)-coating with corrosion protection and mechanical properties superior to bare alloy's natural oxide layer. Additional protection was provided by the application of polymer, thus creating a composite coating. Electrochemical and scratch tests, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction studies were performed.