Influence of drying temperature on the corrosion performance of chromate coatings on galvanized steel

Abstract The influence of drying temperature on the corrosion performance of chromate coatings on electro‐galvanized (EG) steel has been investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic measurements in 3.5% NaCl solutions. The chromate coatings were applied to the EG steel in a solution (pH 1.2) containing sodium dichromate and sulfuric acid at room temperature. The coatings were dried in an oven at three different temperatures: 60, 110 and 210°C. The surface of the chromate coatings was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy‐dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The results show that the drying temperature significantly affects the morphology of the chromate coatings and consequently affects their corrosion behavior. The chromate coatings dried at 110°C had few cracks and the lowest corrosion current. The chromate coatings dried at 60°C showed passivity. The EIS results show that the chromate coatings dried at 60°C has the largest impedance in a neutral 3.5% NaCl solution. Drying at higher temperature (210°C) degrades the chromate coatings by widening the cracks and reducing soluble Cr(VI) in the chromate layer. The favorable drying temperature for the chromate coatings on the EG steel is between 60 and 110°C.