Protecting Aluminum from Atmospheric Corrosion via Surface Hydrophobization with Stearic Acid and Trialkoxysilanes

The possibility of subjecting aluminum to hydrophobization and superhydrophobization (SHP) with ethanol solutions of trialkoxysilanes and stearic acid is explored. It is shown that SHP coatings are highly effective in protecting Al against atmospheric corrosion. The thicknesses of surface SHP layers are determined via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ellipsometry. The protective ability of SHP coatings is determined by polarization measurements and corrosion tests in a salt fog chamber.