The role of surfactants in phosphate conversion coatings

Abstract

Phosphating is defined as the treatment of a metal surface to give it a reasonably hard, electrically non-conducting surface coating of insoluble phosphate which is contiguous and highly adherent to the underlying metal and is considerably more absorptive than the metal [1]. The coating is formed as a result of a topochemical reaction, which causes the surface of the base metal to integrate itself as a part of the corrosion resistant film.