Speakers - 2026

Title: Effect of aluminum doping concentration on the corrosion performance of electrophoretically deposited ZnO coatings on A36 steel

Abstract

Corrosion of metallic materials remains one of the major challenges for various industrial sectors, particularly in structural and transportation applications, due to its detrimental effects on material integrity, component service life span, and the associated increase in maintenance costs. In this context, the development of advanced protective coatings has become a key strategy to mitigate corrosion processes and enhance the durability of steels exposed to aggressive environments. Among the materials investigated, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (Al:ZnO) has attracted increasing attention due to its chemical stability, tunable physicochemical properties, and its potential application as a functional coating.

This study evaluated the corrosion resistance of Al:ZnO coatings deposited on A36 carbon steel substrates. Aluminum-doped ZnO powders were synthesized via a coprecipitation method using zinc nitrate and aluminum nitrate as precursors. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 10 with NaOH, and the reaction mixture was maintained at 80 C for 2 h to promote precipitate formation. The resulting solid was subsequently recovered by centrifugation, washed to remove residual species, dried at 80 °C, and calcined at 500 °C for 1 h to obtain the doped material.The Al:ZnO powder was dispersed in ethanol and deposited onto A36 steel substrates by electrophoretic deposition using a two-electrode configuration, applying a potential of 5 V for 5 min at room temperature. The coated samples were then dried at 60 C for 24 h. The corrosion behavior of the coatings was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization measurements in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The results showed a decrease in corrosion current density with increasing aluminum content in ZnO. In particular, the coating containing 4 at.% Al exhibited the lowest corrosion current density (4.14 × 10-6 A·cm-2), compared with coatings containing 2 and 3 at.% Al. These results indicate that increasing the aluminum content in ZnO enhances the corrosion resistance of coatings deposited on A36 steel in saline environments, highlighting their potential for the development of protective coatings for metallic structures exposed to aggressive conditions.

List all other benefits:

• The results will provide the audience with insights into metal oxides and the influence of aluminum doping concentration on the corrosion resistance of A36 steel.
• Moreover, the audience will gain practical insight into the use of electrochemical techniques, such as polarization curves, to evaluate corrosion behavior.
• Finally, the results will contribute to a broader understanding of how nanomaterial-based protective coatings can be used to mitigate corrosion in steel structures operating in aggressive saline environments, highlighting their potential to improve durability and performance in metallurgical and metal-processing industries.