Structure and properties of Ti(IV)-doped zinc hydroxychloride rusts formed at various temperatures

► At 6–120 °C, Ti(IV) strongly inhibits the crystallization and particle growth of zinc hydroxychloride rusts. ► Higher aging temperature promotes the formation of nano-sized TiO 2 particles and suppresses the adsorption of corrosive gasses such as H 2O and CO 2. ► Alloying the Ti in galvanized steel may form compact zinc rust layer under various atmospheric temperatures in marine environment, leading to improve the corrosion resistance. To simulate the atmospheric corrosion of steels galvanized with Ti–Zn alloys under different atmospheric temperatures, Ti(IV)-doped zinc hydroxychloride (Zn 5(OH) 8Cl 2·H 2O: ZHC) was prepared at various aging temperatures of 6–120 °C. Adding the Ti(IV) inhibited the crystallization and particle growth of ZHC, showing a minimum at 50 °C. Higher aging temperature promoted the formation of TiO 2 nano-particles. Elevating the aging temperature suppressed the adsorption of H 2O and CO 2 on Ti(IV)-doped ZHC. These results suggest that the alloying Ti in galvanized steel forms compact zinc rust layer at various atmospheric temperatures in marine environment, which would lead to the enhancement of corrosion resistance.