Effect of electrolyte additives on performance of plasma electrolytic oxidation films formed on magnesium alloy AZ91D

Various plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) films were prepared on magnesium alloy AZ91D in a silicate bath with different additives such as phosphate, fluoride and borate. Effects of the additives on chemical composition and corrosion resistance of the PEO films were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results showed that the PEO films obtained in solutions with both borate and fluoride had better corrosion resistance. In order to understand the corrosion mechanism of PEO films on magnesium alloy AZ91D, electronic property of the magnesium electrode with PEO films was studied by Mott-Schottky approach in a solution containing borate and chloride. The results indicated that magnesium electrodes with and without PEO films all exhibited n-type semiconducting property. However, in comparison with the magnesium electrode treated in solutions containing phosphate or borate, the electrode treated in solutions containing both borate and fluoride (M-film) had lower donor concentration and much negative flat band potential; therefore, the M-film had lower reactivity and higher corrosion resistance. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.