Polycrystalline hydrated aluminum oxide coatings with high corrosion resistance have been produced on Al alloys using non-toxic, non-electrolytic methods. These coatings are formed by a two stage process consisting of immersion in an alkaline Li-salt solution to form a hydrotalcite coating followed by immersion in boiling distilled water. Immersion in boiling water transforms the hydrotalcite to hydrated aluminum oxide (bayerite). This process has been termed “reversion”. Reversion coatings can be formed in 30 minutes or less and exhibit corrosion resistances near that of anodized coatings. Reversion coating morphology, structure and composition are presented. The corrosion resistance of reversion coatings is compared to the corrosion resistance of coatings produced by chromate conversion and electrolytic anodization.