Preparation and corrosion resistance of a nanocomposite plasma electrolytic oxidation coating on Mg-1%Ca alloy formed in aluminate electrolyte containing titania nano-additives

Titania nanoparticles were utilized as suspension in alkaline aluminate electrolyte to form nanocomposite coatings on magnesium alloy containing 1 wt% calcium by plasma electrolytic oxidation process. Microhardness, wettability, potentiodynamic polarization, wettability, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and immersion tests were performed in 3.5% NaCl solution to study corrosion behavior of the coated samples in reference to the uncoated Mg alloy. The coating with 4 g/L concentration of nanoparticles showed the highest microhardness, lowest hydrophilic properties and highest corrosion resistance. This coating substantially diminishes the Mg dissolution in the in 3.5% NaCl solution and increases the charge transfer resistance of the Mg alloy. Although higher concentrations of nanoparticles enhanced the defect density in the coating, they resulted in lower corrosion resistance. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.