Formation of ceramic coatings on non-valve metal low carbon steel using micro-arc oxidation technology

Valve metals are metals that can undergo surface modification through micro-arc oxidation (MAO). Iron is not considered a valve metal and cannot undergo MAO. Steel is a widely used alloy due to its excellent properties, including high toughness, good workability, and low cost. However, its weak corrosion and abrasion resistance limit its range of application and service life. Al 2 O 3 ceramic coating is formed on the surface of non-valve metal low carbon steel using MAO technology. The surface morphology and composition of the MAO coatings on nonvalve metals are investigated through characterization. Tribological experiments show that the coefficient of friction of the samples obtained from the MAO power supply frequency of 1400 Hz is the smallest. After conducting a corrosion resistance test following MAO treatment, the impedance increased by three orders of magnitude and the corrosion rate decreased by one order of magnitude. The use of MAO treatment can expand the use of steel and shows promise for application to other non-valve metals.