Effects of Al2O3 Nano-additive on Performance of Micro-arc Oxidation Coatings Formed on AZ91D Mg Alloy

Abstract

Ceramic coatings were prepared on AZ91D Mg alloy by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in aluminate electrolytes, with Al2O3 nano-additive suspending at different concentrations. Effects of nano-additive concentration on the structure, phase composition, hardness and anti-corrosion property of the MAO coatings were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, micro-hardness test and electrochemical method, respectively. The results revealed that Al2O3 nano-particles were mostly incorporated into ceramic coating chemically, transferred into MgAl2O4, rather than being trapped mechanically during MAO process. With the increase of Al2O3 concentration, the voltage–time response, content of MgAl2O4, hardness and anti-corrosion property increased. However, when the concentration varied from 10 g/L to 15 g/L, these behaviors and properties changed only a little. This result indicated that, after the concentration of Al2O3 nano-additive reaching 10 g/L, the incorporation of Al2O3 nano-particles turned into a saturation state, due to the complex process during MAO treatment. Therefore, 10 g/L might be a proper concentration for MAO coating to incorporate Al2O3 nano-particles.