The present study investigates the effect of tartaric acid on anodic film morphology and on corrosion resistance of hydrothermally sealed anodized AA2024. Anodizing treatment was performed in dilute sulfuric acid electrolyte with or without addition of tartaric acid. Hydrothermal sealing was carried out in boiling water for each anodized specimen. The morphology of the sealed anodic films was examined using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed to assess sealing quality and corrosion resistance of the anodic films. It was shown that the sealing was more efficient in the case of anodic films formed in tartaric acid electrolyte mainly due to their lower porosity. It was also observed that the properties of the barrier layer were higher when sealing was performed on specimens anodized in the presence of tartaric acid. This suggests a specific role of the species on the barrier layer, which contributes to the enhancement of the performance in terms of corrosion resistance of the sealed anodic films. The present study clearly validates the beneficial role of tartaric acid in anodizing baths for the corrosion protection of AA2024. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.