Effect of vanadium additive and phosphating time on anticorrosion, morphology and surface properties of ambient temperature zinc phosphate conversion coatings on mild steel

An attempt has been made to investigate the effect of phosphating time and vanadium additive on the anticorrosion and surface properties of ambient temperature zinc phosphate coatings. Zinc phosphate coatings with different phosphating times and vanadium concentrations were applied to low carbon steel samples. A potentiostatic polarization test in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was carried out to investigate the electrochemical properties of coated samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy were utilized to evaluate the microstructure, chemistry and roughness of coatings. Surface properties such as wettability, surface tension, and work of adhesion were measured. Results indicate that the sample which was immersed for 30 min in the phosphating bath exhibits the lowest corrosion current density, one tenth of bare steel, due to formation of a compact coating while having a low number of microcracks. Addition of 500 ppm vanadium to the coating in a secondary bath decreases the corrosion rate of zinc phosphate coating remarkably, by almost 80%. Microstructural results reveal that vanadium-rich precipitates are formed and enhance the coating coverage on the steel substrate. Vanadium addition increases the surface roughness, surface free energy, and work of adhesion of the phosphate coating.