• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2006

The plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process is a relatively new surface treatment technique that produces a chemically stable and environment-friendly electrolytic coating that can be applied to all types of magnesium alloys. In this study, the characteristics of oxide film were examined after coating the extruded AZ31 alloy through the PEO process. Hard ceramic coatings were obtained on the AZ31 alloy by changing the coating time from 10min to 60min. The morphologies of the surface and the cross-section of the PEO coatings were examined by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, and the thickness of the coating was measured. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the coating shows that the coated layer consists mainly of the MgO and $Mg_2SiO_4$ phases after the oxidation reaction. The hardness of the coated AZ31 alloy increased with increasing coating time. In addition, the corrosion rates of the coated and uncoated AZ31 alloys were examined by salt spray tests according to ASTM B 117 and the results show that the corrosion resistance of the coated AZ31 alloy was superior to that of the un-coated AZ31 alloy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.11a
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• pp.17-17
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• 2012

Magnesium alloys exhibit many attractive properties such as low density, high strength/weight ratio, high thermal conductivity, very good electromagnetic features and good recyclability. However, most commercial magnesium alloys require protective coatings because of their poor corrosion resistance. Attempts have been made to improve the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloys by surface treatments, such as chemical conversion coatings, anodizing, plating and metal coatings, are commonly applied to magnesium alloys in order to increase the corrosion resistance. Among them, chemical conversion coatings are regarded as one of the most effective and cheapest ways to prevent corrosion resistance. In this study, zinc phosphate conversion coatings on various Mg alloys have been developed by selecting proper phosphating bath composition and concentration and by optimizing phosphating time, temperature. Morphology, coatings composition, corrosion resistance, adhesion and its formation and growth mechanism of the zinc phosphate conversion coatings were studied. Results have shown some attractive properties such as simplicity in operation, significantly increased corrosion protective property. However, adhesions between coatings and substrate and also between coatings and paint are still not satisfied. Resolving the problems and understanding the mechanism of phosphating process are targets of our study.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.724-729
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• 2010

The effect of potassium permanganate ($KMnO_4$) in an electrolyte on the corrosion performance of magnesium alloy coated by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) has been investigated in this study. For this purpose, MAO coating was carried out on the present sample under AC condition in an alkaline silicate electrolyte with and without $KMnO_4$. Irrespective of the addition of $KMnO_4$, it was found from structural observation that the ceramic coating layers consisted of inner and outer layers. In the sample processed in the electrolyte with $KMnO_4$, the outer layer became dense and even contained a number of $Mn_2O_3$ atoms, resulting in high corrosion resistance. Based on the results of a potentiodynamic polarization test, it was confirmed that the coating layer formed in the electrolyte with $KMnO_4$exhibited better corrosion resistance than that without $KMnO_4$. The high corrosion resistance of the MAO-treated magnesium alloy was explained in relation to the equivalent circuit model.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.182-189
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• 2019

A thin spray coating of inorganic black lithium polysilicate (IBLP) on black anodized AZ31B magnesium alloy was fabricated for better corrosion resistance and thermo-optical properties for thermal control of spacecraft components. The morphology of the specimens with and without IBLP-based spray coating was characterized by SEM-EDS techniques. Impedance and potentiodynamic measurements on the specimens revealed better corrosion resistance for the specimen with a thin coating of lithium polysilicate. This was primarily due to the presence of lithium polysilicate inside the micro-cracks of the black anodized specimen, restricting the diffusion paths for corrosive media. Environmental tests, namely, humidity, thermal cycling, thermo vacuum performance, were used to evaluate the space-worthiness of the coating. The thermo-optical properties of the coating were measured before and after each environmental test to ascertain its stability. The specimen with an IBLP-based spray coating showed enhanced thermo-optical properties, greater than ~0.90. Hence, the proposed coating demonstrated better handling, better corrosion resistance, and space-worthiness during the pre-launch phase owing to its improved thermo-optical properties.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.100-108
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• 2017

In this investigation corrosion behavior of newly developed high-pressure die cast Al-Ni (N15) and Al-Ni-Ca (NX1503) alloys was studied in 3.5% NaCl solution. The electrochemical corrosion behavior was evaluated using open circuit potential (OCP) measurement, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Potentiodynamic polarization results validated that NX1503 alloy exhibited lower corrosion current density ($i_{corr}$) value ($5.969{\mu}A/cm^2$) compared to N15 ($7.387{\mu}A/cm^2$). EIS-Bode plots revealed a higher impedance (${\mid}Z{\mid}$) value and maximum phase angle value for NX1503 than N15 alloy. Equivalent circuit curve fitting analysis revealed that surface layer ($R_1$) and charge transfer resistance ($R_{ct}$) values of NX1503 alloy was higher compared to N15 alloy. Immersion corrosion studies were also conducted for alloys using fishing line specimen arrangement to simultaneously measure corrosion rates from weight loss ($P_W$) and hydrogen volume ($P_H$) after 72 hours and NX1503 alloy had lower corrosion rate compared to N15 alloy. The addition of Ca to N15 alloy significantly reduced the Al3Ni intermetallic phase and further grain refinement may be attributed for reduction in the corrosion rate.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2003

In this study, sand cast AZ91E and zirconium grain refined MEZ are representative of two typical groups of magnesium alloys: those containing aluminium and those containing no aluminium but with zirconium as a grain refiner. The corrosion performance of these two alloys was evaluated and compared in 5%wt NaCI solution through measurements of weight loss and polarisation curves and examination of microstructure. Corrosion damage of AZ91E was deeper and more localised than that of MEZ, while MEZ had a lower rate of cathodic hydrogen evolution and a higher rate of anodic dissolution than AZ91E. These differences in behaviour can be related to the differences in microstructure and chemical composition between the two alloys.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.227-231
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• 2009

Mg and Mg alloys have been used for lots of applications, including automobile industry, aerospace, mobile phone and computer parts owing to low density. However, Mg and Mg alloys have a restricted application because of poor corrosion properties. Thus, improved surface treatments are required to produce protective films that protect the substrate from corrosive environments. Environmental friendly Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) has been widely investigated on magnesium alloys. PEO process combines electrochemical oxidation with plasma treatment in the aqueous solution. In this study, AZ91 Mg alloys were treated by PEO process in controlling the current with PC condition and treated time, concentration of NaF, NaOH, and $Na_2SiO_3$. The surface morphology and phase composition were analyzed using SEM, EDS and XRD. The potentiodynamic polarization tests were carried out for the analysis of corrosion properties of specimen. Additionally, salt spray tests were carried out to examine and compare the corrosion properties of the PEO treated Mg alloys.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.36-43
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• 2015

In this study, the influences of aluminum and tin additions (individual and combined) on corrosion behavior of magnesium alloy have been determined. The studied alloys were fabricated by permanent mold casting method to measure the corrosion properties, a potentiodynamic test, hydrogen evolution test and immersion test were carried out in a 3.5% NaCl solution at pH 7.2. From the results of microstructure analysis, the Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy was found to be composed of ${\alpha}$-Mg and rod-like $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ phase and the Mg-5Sn-5Al-1Zn alloy was found to be composed of ${\alpha}$-Mg, rod-like $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ and $Mg_2Sn$ phases. In the case of the Mg-9Sn-1Zn alloy, the microstructure was composed of ${\alpha}$-Mg and eutectic $Mg_2Sn$ phase. With Sn addition (individual and combined), the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloys improved.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.91-100
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• 2018

Development of biodegradable implants for treatment of complex bone fractures has recently become one of the priority areas in biomedical materials research. Multifunctional corrosion resistant and bioactive coatings containing hydroxyapatite $Ca_{10}(PO_4)_6(OH)_2$ and magnesium oxide MgO were obtained on Mg-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation. The phase and elemental composition, morphology, and anticorrosion properties of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The PEO-layers were post-treated using superdispersed polytetrafluoroethylene powder. The duplex treatment considerably reduced the corrosion rate (>4 orders of magnitude) of the magnesium alloy. The use of composite coatings in inducing bioactivity and controlling the corrosion degradation of resorbable Mg implants are considered promising. We also applied the plasma electrolytic oxidation method for the formation of the composite bioinert coatings on the titanium nickelide surface in order to improve its electrochemical properties and to change the morphological structure. It was shown that formed coatings significantly reduced the quantity of nickel ions released into the organism.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2013

Magnesium alloys exhibit many attractive properties such as low density, high strength/weight ratio, high thermal conductivity, very good electromagnetic features and good recyclability. However, most commercial magnesium alloys require protective coatings because of their poor corrosion resistance. Attempts have been made to improve the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloys by surface treatments, such as chemical conversion coatings, anodizing, plating and metal coatings. Among them, chemical conversion coatings are regarded as one of the most effective and cheapest ways to prevent corrosion of Mg alloys. In this study, the effects of various $Zn^{2+}$ concentrations and pH levels on the formation of zinc phosphate conversion coatings (ZPCCs) on AZ31 magnesium alloy were investigated, and corrosion resistances of the coated samples were evaluated by immersion test and potentiodynamic polarization experiment. The corrosion resistance of the coated AZ31 samples was found to increase with increasing $Zn^{2+}$ concentration and the lowest corrosion rate was obtained for the samples coated at pH of 3.07, independent of $Zn^{2+}$ concentration. The best coatings on AZ31 were obtained at [$Zn^{2+}$] = 0.068 M and pH 3.07. At the conditions of [$Zn^{2+}$] = 0.068 M and pH 3.07, the formation and growth processes of ZPCCs on AZ31 Mg alloy are divided into four stages: formation of a dense layer, precipitation of fine crystals on the dense layer, growths of the inner and outer layers, and reorganization of outer crystalline layer.