Characterization of alumina films electrodeposited on steel from water suspensions

Abstract

Alumina films were electrodeposited on steel from water suspensions using the constant voltage method. The morphology of deposited films was investigated using optical microscopy coupled with image analysis which enabled the determination of the pore number, percentage of film surface covered by pores and mean pore diameter, and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that the concentration of alumina powder in water suspension strongly affects the morphology of deposited films. The lowest film porosity was obtained at the lowest deposition voltage (30 V) for longer deposition time (10 min) and from suspension with the best particles dispersion (20 mass-% of alumina powder).