Surface conditions similar to those found in aluminium alloys of practical use were assessed by cathodic deposition of transitions metals (Ni and Co) from different electrolytes. Fundamental aspects concerning with the growth of anodic oxide films at potentials lower than 10 V in neutral acetate buffer solution on these modified surfaces were analysed by common electrochemical techniques complemented with scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In both potentiodynamic and galvanostatic modes, the growth of aluminium oxide competes with the dissolution of deposited metal particles. The formation of a thin aluminium barrier oxide film beneath them shifts the dissolution potential over to 1.5 V towards more positive values. Some particles get progressively embedded in the matrix of the growing alumina and act as cation sources, increasing the film conductivity and diminishing the established electric field in the oxide. This effect is more pronounced with Co deposits due to its high active dissolution rate, before passivation occurs. Then, the generation of a two-layer film is explained in terms of the precipitation of metal hydroxide at the solution side on the oxide barrier film. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.