Corrosion protection of aluminium alloy 2024-T3 in 0.05 M NaCl by cerium cinnamate

► Cerium cinnamate is found to be a new and effective inhibitor for AA 2024-T3. ► During the initial stage of immersion, anodic inhibition is apparent due to the deposition film. ► Cinnamate group and cerium ion have combined corrosion inhibition function for AA 2024-T3. The corrosion protection of AA 2024-T3 in 0.05 M NaCl by cerium cinnamate has been studied. Polarization measurements demonstrate that cerium cinnamate is markedly effective for suppressing anodic process of the alloy corrosion during the initial 72 h of immersion. The protection mechanism during the immersion period appears to involve two stages: the deposition of cerium cinnamate, and then hydrolysis of cerium ions forming a cerium oxide/hydroxide, prevailing over the foregoing deposition. This study also elucidates the inhibition effect of cerium cinnamate on the early corrosion attack occurred from the second phase particles by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron-probe microanalysis.