Corrosion of aluminium and its alloys in chloride media is a major problem of the modern world. As a part of my thesis, I focused on the study of the corrosion protection of aluminium alloy AlSi7Mg0.3, which is widely used in the transport industry. The alloy has poor corrosion resistance, therefore the surface needs additional protection. Chromate conversion coatings have been used frequently in the past, but their use is now limited due to their negative impact on the environ\-ment and human health.
In recent decades, a lot of attention is being paid to the development of various types of environmentally friendly coatings. Zirconium conversion and hybrid sol-gel coatings are among the most effective ones. Conversion coatings offer active protection, while hybrid sol-gel coatings, synthesized from various precursors, offer good barrier protection.
The Bachelor's thesis is comprised of a literature review, in which the basic concepts of corrosion, aluminium and its alloys are presented, as well as conversion and hybrid sol-gel coatings. The aim of this thesis is therefore to evaluate the properties of individual coatings and combination of both coatings (active and barrier protection). In the experimental part, the focus is on the preparation of samples, formation of the conversion coating, synthesis of the hybrid sol-gel and characterization of the surface, adhesion and corrosion properties of the prepared coatings.
The results confirm that the developed coatings effectively protect the surface of the alloy in chloride medium, which is an important step towards finding a replacement for chromate coatings and improving the corrosion protection of this alloy.
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