The techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultramicrotomy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) were employed to examine conversion coatings on aluminium developed from a zirconium nitrate/fluoride solution. The coating developed slowly on a microscopic metal substrate with islands of zirconium-rich centres within the coating matrix. According to the TEM assessment, the coating thickness was 30 nm for specimens treated for 60 s and 50 nm for those treated for 900 s. The population of the zirconium-rich centers ranged from 2.8 Ă 10 12 m -2 to 6 Ă 10 12 m -2 over the treatment period. According to Auger-electron-spectroscopy in-depth analyses, the coating is composed of three diffused layers with an outer region of zirconium oxide followed by a layer of aluminium oxide/hydroxide and an inner layer at the metal/coating interface comprising compounds of aluminium and fluorides. The corrosion-resistance and paint-adhesion characteristics of the zirconium conversion coating are superior to those of bare aluminium.Avtorji so uporabili SEM in TEM/EDX tehnike za preiskavo konverzijske prevleke, nastale na podlogi iz tehni~no~istega aluminija z uporabo Zr nitrat/fluoridne raztopine. Prevleka je nastajala po~asi na mikroskopski kovinski podlagi s posameznimi sredi{~i z Zr bogatih oto~kov znotraj matrice prevleke. S TEM ocenjena debelina prevleke je zna{ala 30 nm na vzorcih po 60-sekundni in 50 nm pri 900-sekundni obdelavi. Populacija z Zr bogatih oto~kov je bila med 2,8 x 10 12 m -2 do 6 x 10 12 m -2 glede na~as obdelave. Globinska analiza z Augerjevo spektroskopijo je pokazala, da je prevleka sestavljena iz treh difuzijskih plasti: zunanje plasti Zr oksida, plasti Al oksida/hidroksida ter notranje plasti pri stiku med kovino in prevleko z vsebnostjo spojin Al in fluoridov. Korozijska odpornost in adhezijske karakteristike za barve konverzijske prevleke na osnovi Zr so bolj{e v primerjavi s tistimi na osnovi~istega (neprevle~enega) aluminija. Klju~ne besede: SEM/TEM/EDX, ultramikrotomija, konverzijska prevleka na osnovi cirkonija, korozija *Corresponding authors e-mails: