Nanostructured aluminium based coatings deposited by electron-beam evaporative PVD

Aluminium based alloys were deposited on glass substrates by electron-beam evaporative PVD technique which is compatible with a roll to roll process on large flat substrates because of high deposition rates. Alloying elements (Cr, Gd) are added in order to improve both mechanical and corrosion behaviours of aluminium. This approach aims to develop sacrificial protection of steel flat products. Because of the components' vapor pressure difference, aluminium and alloying elements are co-evaporated from two separate sources. Nanohardness measurements and electrochemical characterizations in saline solution were carried out. It's shown that aluminium can be mechanically reinforced with preserving sacrificial behaviours.