Corrosion protection of aluminum surfaces using pyrolytic tin oxide

Abstract
Thin films of tin oxide have been pyrolytically deposited on both bulk and evaporated aluminum surfaces. Using optical reflectance spectroscopy it is shown that the chemical stability of tin-oxide-coated aluminum is greatly improved compared to uncoated or anodized aluminum. Exposure to sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide solutions left the tin-oxide-coated surfaces unaffected, while uncoated or anodized surfaces were completely dissolved in the solutions.