In this work, layered double hydroxide (LDH) conversion films were grown on aluminium alloy 2024 substrates. The effect of experimental conditions on the growth of LDH conversion films, including concentration of reactants and presence of corrosion inhibitor, was investigated. The protective performance provided by LDH films was assessed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and rationalised in terms of structural and morphological characteristics surveyed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The results show that corrosion protection increases when corrosion inhibitors (vanadates) are intercalated in LDHs and dilute solutions of Zn2+ are used to grow LDHs, (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.