Growth and corrosion of aluminum PVD-coating on AZ31 magnesium alloy

Magnetron sputtering was applied to prepare aluminum coating on a mechanically polished AZ31 magnesium alloy. A loose oxide film was spontaneously formed on the surface of AZ31 magnesium alloy during polishing process. The aluminum coating, which was subsequently deposited on this oxide layer, presented a developed columnar microstructure. Attributed to the barrier effect of Al coating, the Al coated AZ31 showed a higher corrosion resistance than bare AZ31 in corrosion tests. Generally, Al coating is cathodically protected by magnesium alloy substrate. But it is interesting in this study that Al coating still suffered from severe corrosion due to the occurrence of the alkalization effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.