Controlling the rate of degradation of Mg using magnesium fluoride and magnesium fluoride-magnesium phosphate duplex coatings

The thin and porous Fluoride Conversion Coating FCC with many cracks could not offer a significant improvement in corrosion resistance for Mg. Magnesium phosphate coating improves the corrosion resistance of Mg, good bioactivity, promotes cell viability and cyto-compatibility and exhibits antibacterial activity. However, rapid dissolution in Mg in acidic magnesium phosphate containing solutions leads to the development of an inhomogeneous coating. The present study attempts to prevent the excessive dissolution of Mg by forming a fluoride conversion coating as a pre-treatment in the first stage followed by deposition of magnesium phosphate coating in the second stage to develop magnesium fluoride-magnesium phosphate duplex coatings. The morphological features, structural characteristics, nature of functional groups, corrosion behavior in Hanks’ balanced salt solution and bioactivity in simulated body fluid are assessed to ascertain the suitability of the magnesium fluoride-magnesium phosphate duplex coating in controlling the rate of degradation of Mg and improving its bioactivity using uncoated Mg and fluoride conversion coated Mg as reference. The findings of the study reveal that the magnesium fluoride-magnesium phosphate duplex coating could offer an excellent corrosion resistance and improve the bioactivity of Mg.