The effect of burnish process on 2024 aluminum alloy was studied by electron work function and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). Moreover, the corrosion resistance of thin passive films formed on 2024 aluminum alloy in borate buffer solutions was studied by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the Mott-Schottky plots and the galvanostatic techniques. The composition of passive films was analyzed by Raman spectra. The results obtained indicated that the impedance increased due to burnish and this was attributed to decreased electron work function and higher current efficiency in the burnished aluminum alloy which led to thicker passive films. It was further supported by Raman spectra experiment. Moreover, the donor and acceptor concentration of passive films and their the semiconductor type have changed due to burnish. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.