Modification and characterization of mineralization surface for corrosion protection

Protective coating for metals and alloys that are both thin and continuous remains an area of major concern. The following examines the production and characterization of such a novel coating that is advantageous because it employs both a readily available and inexpensive additive, silicates, and supply of metallic cations already present on the pre-coat surface. The process involves formation of a thin metal silicate layer that differs from the usual silica coat in that it incorporates a natural metal top layer in the silicate layer and can be as thin as several hundred angstroms and still imparts corrosion inhibiting behavior. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.