The cooperative effect of calcium ions and tartrate ions on the corrosion inhibition of pure aluminum in an alkaline solution

Abstract The cooperative effect of calcium ion and tartrate ion on the corrosion inhibition of pure aluminum in an alkaline solution was investigated by hydrogen collection, electrochemical methods and XPS. The results of electrochemical experiments showed that the inhibition of calcium ion was enhanced by the addition of tartrate ion, while tartrate ion itself has only a little inhibition effect. Analysis by XPS, it was found that calcium and tartrate ions did not contribute to the formation of the surface film on aluminum. This fact indicates that these two ions act as interface inhibitor rather than inter-phase one. The cooperative effect of the two ions might be due to formation of complex, which makes it easier for Ca2+ to adsorb on the aluminum surface.