X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) were used to analyse the surface modifications of AA-2024-T3 induced by model pre-treatment baths such as H2SO4, HNO3, in a mixture both acids. These acids are commonly for pickling treatment, applied before conversion coating deposition. ToF-SIMS XPS measurements showed significant copper enric...