| Chromate surface treatments and chromate-containing epoxy primers are often used for the corrosion control of aluminum alloys. However, due to environmental concerns and adverse health effects surrounding such use of chromates, there is an intensive effort to find suitable replacements for chromate-based coatings. Electroactive conducting polymers (ECPs) continue to be of considerable interest as components of corrosion-resistant coating systems due to their conductivity and redox properties.; In this dissertation, the use of electrochemical techniques for the measurement of the corrosion inhibition provided to aluminum alloy 2024-T3 by ECP coatings will be discussed. The ECPs studied were poly(3-octyl pyrrole) doped with pTS-/ClO4-, poly(3-octyl pyrrole) doped with pTS-, poly(3-octyl pyrrole) doped with ClO4-, and poly(3-octadecyl pyrrole) doped with pTS-/ClO4-. The ECPs were considered to be a primer coating and thus were used in conjunction with a polyurethane topcoat. The use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), electrochemical noise method (ENM), linear polarization, corrosion potential measurements, and scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) will be discussed with results presented.; It was determined that poly(3-octyl pyrrole) doped with pTS- /ClO4-, poly(3-octyl pyrrole) doped with pTS-, and poly(3-octadecyl pyrrole) doped with pTS -/ClO4- provided corrosion inhibition to AA 2024-T3. Less corrosion inhibition was observed for AA 2024-T3 coated poly(3-octyl pyrrole) doped with ClO4 -. |
