• 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.