Aluminium coatings were electrodeposited on Fe9Cr1Mo steel from AlCl3–1-ethyl-3-methyl
imidazolium chloride ionic liquid at room temperature and the effect of
solution stirring on deposition rate, preferred crystal orientation,
surface morphology and roughness have been investigated. Aluminium
coating could not be obtained in the unstirred solution for a deposition
current density of 20 mA cm-2 or higher. However, vigorous stirring of the bath enabled the deposition at a current density of 20 mA cm-2
or higher, along with a significant increase in coating thickness. On
the other hand, roughness of the coating increased at higher stirring
speeds. X-ray diffraction measurement showed 26% increase in normalised
intensity of (111) reflection on increasing the stirring speed up to 800
rev min-1, whereas the intensity of (200) reflection was
found to be decreased by 37%. Scanning electron microscopy and energy
dispersive X-ray analysis of the anodised aluminium showed formation of
less porous aluminium oxide film.