Abstract This work investigates the effect of the addition of glycerol on the microstructure, corrosion resistance, and efficiency of the electrodeposition process of Cu coating in an acid sulphate solution. The morphology and microstructures of electrodeposits were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Spectrometry X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Evaluation of the corrosion resistance was performed in 2.0 mol⋅L−1 NaCl by means of weight loss tests and electrochemical techniques. The addition of glycerol resulted in a decrease in grain and crystallite sizes, a decrease in roughness and an increase in the tensile strain of the coating. The deposition efficiency and the corrosion resistance increased with the addition of glycerol exhibiting a maximum value at the concentration of 0.42 mol⋅L−1, increasing the efficiency of electrodeposition by approximately 96%. This is related to the roughness of the coating, which is minimal at this concentration.

This investigation examined the efficacy of Nb₂O₅-based coatings, deposited by using the reactive sputtering technique, on the corrosion and corrosion-fatigue behaviour of 2198-T8 aluminium alloy used as aircraft material. Global corrosion behaviour was accessed by Open Circuit Potential (OCP), Potentiodynamic Polarization curves (PPc) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) techniques in 0.6 mol L⁻1 NaCl solution. Fatigue crack growth (FCG) tests were conducted under controlled loading conditions in both air and saline environments. Comprehensive structural and morphological characterisations were performed using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, including Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). The results unequivocally demonstrated the protective nature of the coating, significantly enhancing the alloy's durability as evidenced by corrosion and fatigue-corrosion tests. These findings underscore the substantial potential of Nb₂O₅ coatings in extending the service life of 2198-T8 aluminium alloy when subjected to aggressive environments, thereby providing invaluable data for aerospace engineering applications.