Abstract: 6Al3Mg coating on the steel substrate was removed by electrochemical stripping but with the inhibition layer between the coating and the substrate retained. The morphologies of the inhibition layers between the specimens with good and with poor coating adhesion was compared by means of scanning electron microscope and electron probe. The results show that the morphology of the inhibition layers of the 6Al3Mg coating is granular, and that Si and Al elements completely coincide at the interface between the coating and the substrate. Due to the large amount of Al inside the coating, the distribution state of Si can be used to characterize the formation of the inhibition layer. For the specimens with good coating adhesion, the distribution of Si presents a continuous state, and the formation of inhibition layer is good, and dense granular inhibition layer can be observed by scanning electron microscope. While for the specimens with poor coating adhesion, the distribution of Si is discontinuous and the formation of inhibition layer is poor.

Key words: 6Al3Mg coating inhibition layer, adhesion, electrochemical stripping