Developing self-repairing oxides to protect zinc

Abstract

Long-term corrosion protection of zinc can be naturally induced by zincs own corrosion products (zinc patina). This patina comprises of multiple layers, which includes a lowermost thin barrier oxide and upper precipitated layers. Natural densification (akin to a form of 'selfrepair') has been observed in portions of the precipitated layers; suggesting that it may be possible to engineer self-repairing oxides for the protection of zinc. With an aim to understand processes which could be leading to this natural densification; i) The corrosion of zinc has been studied as a function of pH; ii) the cathodic activity of zinc oxides has been investigated and also iii) the effect of certain anions namely chlorides and carbonates on zinc passivity has been clarified. Show more