Simultaneous reduction of wear and corrosion of titanium, magnesium and zirconium alloys by surface plasma electrolytic oxidation treatment

Titanium, magnesium and zirconium alloys are widely used in industrial applications, which require high wear and corrosion resistance. However current methods of improving these properties often do not satisfy the requirements of service and functional properties. An alternative approach is the application of oxide-ceramic coatings using high temperature process. The coatings are applied by spark discharge plasma in the metal-electrolyte system at high voltages - PEO (plasma electrolytic oxidation) as an oxide synthesis method. This method has shown good results for aluminium alloys and with good prospects to be used for titanium, magnesium and zirconium alloys. Development of PEO technology to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of titanium, magnesium and zirconium alloys is discussed in this paper. It describes the methods for obtaining the required layer-thickness for a specified hardness, porosity, wear and corrosion resistance, sets up the optimal process parameters (voltage/current) by taking the relation of anodic to cathodic currents into account, and establishing the electrolyte content of different dopants.