Electrochemically-induced TiO2 incorporation for enhancing corrosion and tribocorrosion resistance of PEO coating on 7075 Al alloy
Abstract 7075 Al alloy was PEO-treated in a silicate based electrolyte containing 3 g l-1 potassium titanyl oxalate using unipolar and bipolar pulsed current waveforms. The coating formed by the bipolar waveform with the wider cathodic pulses showed volcano-like surface morphology with no evidence of large pores at the metal/coating interface. It revealed the highest corrosion performance due to the synergistic effect of TiO2 incorporation and structural/morphological features along with a better passivation behavior indicating no pitting susceptibility. For this coating, the tribocorrosion tests showed no potential drop during sliding under 1 N with the lowest volume loss of 0.022 mm3.
Synergistic effect of W incorporation and pulsed current mode on wear and tribocorrosion resistance of coatings grown by plasma electrolytic oxidation on 7075 Al alloy
Ceramic coatings were grown by plasma electrolytic oxidation on 7075 Al alloy using unipolar and bipolar pulsed current waveforms with 20 and 40% cathodic duty cycles, from a silicate-based bath without and with the addition of Na2WO4. Pancake-like morphology was dominant on the coatings grown by unipolar waveform, while the bipolar waveforms promoted volcano-like morphology, increased the roughness of the coating surface and the formation of more compact layers. The coatings produced using the bipolar waveforms provided higher resistances toward both tribocorrosion and dry sliding conditions, while further improvement was achieved by the presence of tungsten. The coatings produced in tungs…
The corrosion and tribocorrosion resistance of PEO composite coatings containing α-Al2O3 particles on 7075 Al alloy
Abstract Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of 7075 Al alloy was carried out in silicate base electrolyte containing 200 nm diameter α-Al2O3 particles for producing composite coatings. The process was performed under a soft-sparking regime using a pulsed bipolar signal with several concentrations of α-Al2O3 particles. It was found that the incorporation of α-Al2O3 particles into the coating did not significantly alter the thickness and roughness of the coating. However, the α-Al2O3 particles were detected on surface of the composite coatings. Corrosion tests showed significant improvement in corrosion performance of the composite coatings due to the efficient pore blocking provided by α-Al…
Characterization and properties of PEO coatings on 7075 Al alloy grown in alkaline silicate electrolyte containing KMnO 4 additive
Abstract Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) was used to modify the surface of 7075 Al alloy by applying a bipolar pulsed-current in a silicate based electrolyte containing 0 to 3 g L− 1 KMnO4. For the coating produced in the base electrolyte, crystalline γ-Al2O3 was the main phase, while the coatings formed at the presence of KMnO4 consisted of α-Mn2O3 containing Si and Al oxides. A pancake structure was observed on surface of the coating produced in the base electrolyte, while a foam feature along with some volcano-like areas was detected on the surface of the coatings produced in the presence of KMnO4. The KMnO4 changed the discharge type leading to diminish the pores at the metal/coatin…
Effect of Pulse Current Mode on Microstructure, Composition and Corrosion Performance of the Coatings Produced by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation on AZ31 Mg Alloy
Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings were grown on AZ31 Mg alloy in a silicate-based electrolyte containing KF using unipolar and bipolar (usual and soft-sparking) waveforms. The coatings were dual-layered consisting of MgO, MgF2 and Mg2SiO4 phases. Surface morphology of the coatings was a net-like (scaffold) containing a micro-pores network, micro-cracks and granules of oxide compounds. Deep pores were observed in the coating produced by unipolar and usual bipolar waveforms. The soft-sparking eliminated the deep pores and produced the lowest porosity in the coatings. It was found that the corrosion performance of the coatings evaluated using EIS in 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution is mostly…
Corrosion and wear resistance of coatings produced on AZ31 Mg alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation in silicate-based K2TiF6 containing solution: Effect of waveform
Abstract In this research, plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings were prepared on AZ31 Mg alloy in a silicate-based solution containing K2TiF6 using bipolar and soft sparking waveforms with 10, 20, and 30% cathodic duty cycles. The coatings displayed a net-like surface morphology consisted of irregular micro-pores, micro-cracks, fused oxide particles, and a sintered structure. Due to the incorporation of TiO2 colloidal particles and the cathodic pulse repair effect, most of the micro-pores were sealed. Long-term corrosion performance of the coatings was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy during immersion in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution up to 14 days. The coating grown by t…
Effects of pulse current mode on plasma electrolytic oxidation of 7075 Al in Na2WO4 containing solution: From unipolar to soft-sparking regime
Abstract Plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings were produced on 7075 Al alloy in a silicate based solution containing sodium tungstate using unipolar, usual bipolar and soft-sparking bipolar pulsed current regimes. X-ray diffraction proved that the coatings contain gamma alumina and metallic tungsten. EDS results showed that the tungsten content decreases with increasing the negative half cycle. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the pancake and volcano-like were dominant morphologies for the coatings produced by the unipolar and bipolar current regimes, respectively. Under unipolar current regime, a band of large pores is observed at the metal/coating interface, while they became di…
The Effect of Electrolytic Solution Composition on the Structure, Corrosion, and Wear Resistance of PEO Coatings on AZ31 Magnesium Alloy
Plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings were prepared in aluminate, phosphate, and silicate-based electrolytic solutions using a soft-sparking regime in a multi-frequency stepped process to compare the structure, corrosion, and wear characteristics of the obtained coatings on AZ31 magnesium alloy. The XRD results indicated that all coatings consist of MgO and MgF2, while specific products such as Mg2SiO4, MgSiO3, Mg2P2O7, and MgAl2O4 were also present in specimens based on the selected solution. Surface morphology of the obtained coatings was strongly affected by the electrolyte composition. Aluminate-containing coating showed volcano-like, nodular particles and craters distributed over the …
The multi-effects of K2TiF6 additive on the properties of PEO coatings on AZ31 Mg alloy
Abstract Plasma electrolytic oxidation of AZ31 Mg alloy was performed in an alkaline silicate-based solution containing various concentrations of K2TiF6 using unipolar waveform at a constant voltage. The surface morphology of all coatings was rough and contained a micro-pore network, micro-cracks, and granules of oxide compounds in different diameters and micro-pore levels. The coating is composed of MgO, MgF2, Mg2SiO4, SiO2 (amorphous), and TiO2 (crystalline and amorphous) phases. The average thickness of the coatings was increased by adding the K2TiF6, where EDS results showed that a skinny fluoride-rich passive layer forms. With increasing time and reaching the final potential, the TiO2 …
Effect of Molybdate on Corrosion Performance of Oxide Coating Produced on 7075 Al Alloy Using PEO
In this research, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings were prepared on 7075 Al alloy in a silicate-based solution with Na2MoO4 additive using a unipolar waveform at constant current density. The coatings displayed micro-pores, micro-cracks, pancake-like and crater-like features, and also solidified molten oxide particles on the surface. The coatings were majorly composed of Al2O3 (γ, δ, and α), SiO2 (amorphous), and MoO3 phases, which confirms the incorporation of molybdenum in the case of additive-containing coatings. Molybdenum species were transported through cracks, channels, and micropores, as the ready access pathways into the coating and partly sealed the c…
Silicate and Hydroxide Concentration Influencing the Properties of Composite Al2O3-TiO2 PEO Coatings on AA7075 Alloy
This work evaluates the effect of sodium meta-silicate pentahydrate (SMS) and potassium hydroxide concentrations on properties of Al2O3-TiO2 coatings produced through plasma electrolytic oxidation in a solution containing 3 g L−1 potassium titanyl oxalate, (PTO), using a unipolar waveform with constant current density. The surface and cross-section characteristics of PEO coatings including morphology, elemental distribution, and phase composition were evaluated using FESEM, EDS, and XRD techniques. Voltage-time response indicated the concentration of SMS and KOH had a significant effect on the duration of each stage of the PEO process. More cracks and pores were formed at the higher concent…
Effects of Pulse Current Mode on Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation of 7075 Al in KMnO4Containing Solution
Plasma electrolytic oxidation of 7075 Al alloy was performed in alkaline silicate electrolyte containing KMnO4as an additive using unipolar (U) and bipolar pulsed current modes (B1 and B2). The coating grown using the bipolar current with longer cathodic pulse time (B2) revealed a more dense foam-like surface morphology with fewer volcano areas providing higher thickness, which is mainly raised by reduction in discharge intensity. Also, a lower concentration of electrolyte elements (Si and Mn) was incorporated into the coating providing a brighter appearance. EIS results showed very high inner layer resistances for the coatings indicating this layer controls the overall corrosion performanc…