Corrosion and nanoindentation studies of MAO coatings

Ceramic coatings have been developed on AZ31B Mg alloys by micro arc oxidation ( MAO) technique, using a mixture of sodium phosphate and sodium fluoride electrolytes. Further, MAO coatings were sealed by the conventional hot water immersion technique. The coatings were characterised by X-ray diffraction, potentiodynamic polarisation, mechanical as well as optical profilometry and nanoindentation techniques. The results showed that the surface roughness and related parameters were always higher after the corrosion test in comparison to as developed MAO coatings, the corrosion resistance of the sealed MAO coatings were enhanced in comparison to unsealed coatings and the MAO coatings had nanohardness,10 times and Young's modulus about two times as high as those of the AZ31B Mg alloys. Further, the characteristic scatter in the data was treated by the application of Weibull statistical method. These results are discussed in terms changes in microstructure of the MAO coatings, especially after sealing.