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Nanometer thick layers of clay and polymer were formed on mica, silicon, and aluminum 2024-T3 alloy using alternating solutions of positively and negatively charged polymer and clay, respectively. Atomic force microscopy was used to observe the morphology of the composite films on mica and silicon. It was found that solution concentrations of clay above 0.02 weight percent lead to the uncontrolled deposition of clay platelets on the substrate's surface. By using solution concentrations of clay above 0.02 weight percent and ultrasonic agitation together it is possible to deposit a uniform monolayer of clay platelets on a mica substrate in £ 20 seconds. Ultrasonic agitation also produced crude patterns of montmorillonite platelets. Thin films of poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) were made using concentrations ³ 2 weight percent of PDDA. It was found that the PDDA formed several unusual morphologies. Spherulites of PDDA were observed with AFM and the glass transition temperature of high molecular weight PDDA was measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Circular regions of positive charge were discovered on silicon wafers provided by three different sources. These areas of charge have never been reported in literature, but can easily be detected by placing wafers into solutions containing negatively or positively charged solutions of clay or polymer, respectively. The exact nature of these charged regions is unknown, but it is hypothesized that impurities on silicon wafers create the circular regions of positive charge. ISAM films made of a polyamide salt and a synthetic clay, Laponite RD®, demonstrated significant corrosion resistance on 2024-T3 Al alloys after 168 hours of salt spray testing. The ISAM films offered corrosion protection only if there was a significant layer of underlying surface oxide present, however. It was found that ISAM deposited films of polyarylic acid (PAA) and polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) may offer some corrosion resistance on 2024-T3 Al alloys, but these films' corrosion resistance is severely hampered by the presence of Cl- in the PAH solution. Funding from this project was gratefully received from the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Virginia Tech; Luna Innovations Inc; the American Chemical Society / Petroleum Research Fund #34412-G5 and the Environmental Protection Agency Contract #68-D-00-244. / Master of Science

This diploma thesis deals with evaluation of efficiency of protection conversion coatings created by passivation metals and alloys in passivation baths without chromium compounds. The theoretical part is initially concerned with question of electrochemical corrosion of metals, consequently there are mentioned different methods of corrosion protection. The main section of theoretical part of this thesis deals with chromate conversion coatings, description of their protective efficiency (including their unique self-healing effect) and then with account of new chromate-free conversion coatings occurring as chromate alternatives, whose usage is constrained because of their content of hexavalent chromium, which is highly toxic, oxidizing and also carcinogenic and thereby very dangerous for human body and the environment. Experimental part of this thesis is concerned with evaluation of efficiency of particular conversion coating which is quite commonly use in some applications as chromate alternative. It is chromate-free conversion coating which is created by passivation of metals or alloys in passivation bath Pragokor BP, which contains zirconium fluorocomplexes and is without any chromium or other toxic or ecologically unhealthy compounds. The influence of sealing of the coating in preparation Pragokor Seal Al and also other surface treatments such as application of conservation wax WAXENG or cold application of zinc coating were tested too. Efficiency of mentioned surface treatments was then evaluated on aluminum and steel by laboratory accelerated and atmospheric corrosion testing.