This article investigates the modification of a carbon steel surface by benzotriazole (BTA), and the structure and properties of the formed layers. Adsorption was studied by surface analytical methods such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and reflecting infrared microscopy (FTIR). It has been established that a polymer-like film containing iron-azole complexes that are 2 nm thick and strongly bonded to the metal is formed on the surface as a result of the azole interacting with a steel surface. This film is capable to inhibit uniform and localized corrosion of steel in neutral aqueous electrolytes containing chloride ions. It is shown that the iron-azole layer located at the interface acts as a promotor of adhesion, increasing the interaction of polymeric coatings with the steel surface. Taking into account these properties, the steel pretreatments can be used for improving the anticorrosion properties of polymeric coatings applied for the protection of steel constructions.

The review describes an electrode kinetic model of aluminum pitting nucleation taking into account the charge of the metal surface, the adsorption of chloride ions on the oxide surface, their penetration through the oxide film with the help of oxygen vacancies, and the dissolution of the underlying substrate with the initiation of pitting corrosion at the metal/oxide interface. It is shown that the critical pitting potential is a function of the potential of a thin layer of aluminum surface covered by oxide and the value of the pitting potential of a binary surface alloying is related to the isoelectric point of the alloying element oxide in the binary alloy. An electrode kinetic model of pitting initiation is described, which was used to explain the effect of surface alloying on the pitting initiation on binary alloys. A method for changing the surface charge by forming foreign surface organosilicon nanolayers bearing both negatively and positively charged groups was proposed. It has been established that four characteristics (q, Ψ ₁-potential, E _pit and the tendency of aluminum to depassivate) depend on the nature of ion-exchange groups, the degree of their acid dissociation, and the ion-chemical interaction with activator ions.

Adsorption of diaminesilane (DAS), vinyltrimethoxysilane (VS) on the surface of thermally precipitated aluminium was examined. The use of different adsorption isotherms made it possible to calculate the adsorption heats for DAS and VS. It was determined that chemisorption of these organosilanes occurred on the surface of aluminium. Exposure of aluminium for 60 min to aqueous solutions of organosilanes led to the formation of organosilane films on the surface of the metal. The use of infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy in the work made it possible to assess the interactions of organosilanes with the metal surface, as well as to determine the structural features of the films and their thickness. Electrochemical and corrosion research methods made it possible to study the protective properties of organosilane films on aluminium.

Reducing the risks caused by losses due to the atmospheric corrosion of metal structures has been relevant for many years and is an important scientific and technical task. Previously, for this purpose, the preliminary modification of the surface of structural metals with solutions of compositions, based on both individual organosilanes and their mixtures with amine-containing corrosion inhibitors, was proposed. Such treatment leads to the formation of self-assembled siloxane polymeric/oligomeric nanoscale layers on the metal surface, which are capable of changing the physicochemical properties of the metal surface (namely, by reducing the tendency of the metal to corrosive destruction). In this work, annual atmospheric corrosion tests of samples of steel, copper, zinc, and aluminum without protection, and samples modified with compositions based on organosilanes in an urban atmosphere, were carried out. It was established (by the gravimetric method) that the corrosion rate of unmodified (without protection) metals is as follows: steel—0.0022 mm/year; aluminum—0.0015 mm/year; copper—0.00018 mm/year; and zinc—0.00023 mm/year. Using gravimetry and optical microscopy, it was shown that the preliminary modification of metal surfaces with compositions based on organosilanes led to the inhibition of both uniform and local corrosion of metals. The corrosion rates of samples that were modified with one-component compositions decreased by almost two times. The maximum inhibitory effect for the studied systems was demonstrated by mixed binary modifying compositions: mixtures of vinyl- and aminosilane, vinylsilane, and benzotriazole. The corrosion rate decreased for all the studied metals. The minimum effect was observed on zinc (2.5 times) and the maximum inhibition of the corrosion rate was obtained on copper (5.1 times). The mechanism of corrosion inhibition by layers formed as a result of surface modification with two-component mixtures was considered.

This review examines the impact of various aqueous electrolytes on hydrogen absorption and self-corrosion in magnesium (Mg) anodes. The discussion integrates both historical and recent studies to explore the mechanisms behind self-corrosion and anomalous hydrogen evolution (HE) under conditions of the Negative Difference Effect (NDE) and Positive Difference Effect (PDE). The focus is on the formation and oxidation of magnesium hydride in regions of active dissolution under NDE conditions. In the case of PDE, anodic dissolution occurs through the passive MgO-Mg(OH)₂ film, which shields the metal from aqueous electrolytes, thereby reducing hydrogen absorption and abnormal HE. The NDE conditions showed delayed reduction activity at the surface, attributed to a hydride phase within the corrosion product layer. Hydride ions were quantified through their anodic oxidation in an alkaline electrolyte, measured by the electric charge passed. The review also considers the role of de-passivating halide ions, electrolyte acidity buffering, and the addition of ligands that form stable complexes with Mg²⁺ ions, on the rates of hydride formation, self-corrosion, and anodic dissolution of Mg. The study evaluates species that either inhibit or promote hydrogen absorption and self-corrosion.

The mechanism of iron corrosion protection by thin siloxane films was clarified. Quartz crystal microbalance technique (QCM) was applied to control the vapour phase deposition of alkoxysilanes and the formation of thin siloxane films. It was shown that the addition of water vapour increased the thickness of the grafted siloxane films. Crystal-like films spontaneously grow to 10–16 monolayers at 100% RH of Ar flow due to the catalytic effect of the surface. X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and Auger spectroscopies analysed the thin siloxane films and Scanning Kelvin Probe (SKP) showed the formation of iron-siloxane bonds passivating the iron surface. The films showed high hydrophobicity and corrosion inhibition in humid air contaminated by sulphur dioxide. Thick films were less ordered, hydrophilic and accelerated the corrosion of iron. For corrosion protection, the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere is extremely important. In a wet Ar atmosphere, contaminated by sulphur dioxide, the surfaces are not stable and quickly corroded. Oxygen adsorption stabilizes the surface oxide film that correspondingly preserves the anchoring iron-siloxane bonds and enables corrosion protection by the coating.