Investigation of cathodic cleaning processes of aluminum alloy

Abstract

On covering aluminum and its alloys with coatings r esistant to high-temperature corrosion and attrition, abundant technological pro blems arise. The key problem is a removal of the film of aluminum oxide Аl 2 O 3 from the aluminum substrate. This permanent, chemi cally continuous film of oxide reduces adhesion between t he substrate and the coating. For improving cohesion of the coating with the substrate, an appr opriate pre-treatment of aluminum is required. In the paper, cleaning of aluminum alloy AW 5754 by el ectric discharge is investigated. This method is considered one of most environmentally friendly methods of surface cleaning. The impact of the parameters of aluminum alloy cathodic cleaning on t he surface cleaning width, its roughness and free energy of the surface were examined. In additi on, the topography, microstructure and chemical composition of the surface of cleaned aluminum allo y were estimated.