Corrosion resistance of cerium-doped zinc calcium phosphate chemical conversion coatings on AZ31 magnesium alloy

Zinc calcium phosphate （Zn-Ca-P） coating and cerium-doped zinc calcium phosphate （Zn-Ca-Ce-P） coating were prepared on AZ31 magnesium alloy. The chemical compositions, morphologies and corrosion resistance of coatings were investigated through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, electron probe micro-analysis （EPMA） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM） together with hydrogen volumetric and electrochemical tests. The results indicate that both coatings predominately contain crystalline hopeite （Zn3（PO4）2·4H2O）, Mg3（PO4）2 and Ca3（PO4）2, and traces of non-crystalline MgF2 and CaF2. The Zn-Ca-Ce-P coating is more compact than the Zn-Ca-P coating due to the formation of CePO4, and displays better corrosion resistance than the Zn-Ca-P coating. Both coatings protect the AZ31 Mg substrate only during an initial immersion period. The micro-galvanic corrosion between the coatings and their substrates leads to an increase of hydrogen evolution rate （HER） with extending the immersion time. The addition of Ce promotes the homogenous distribution of Ca and formation of hopeite. The Zn-Ca-Ce-P coating has the potential for the primer coating on magnesium alloys.

Chemical conversion coating on AZ31B magnesium alloy and its corrosion tendency

The morphology change of the magnesium matrix after pre-treatment and the morphology as well as the phase composition of chemical conversion coating formed by phosphate were studied using scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The corrosion resistance of the coating was studied by salt spray and damp test, and the corrosion tendency during salt immersion test was analyzed. The results show that the phase composition before and after pre-treatment is almost changeless, and the deep microflaw appears between a andβ phases during acidic pickling. The phosphate conversion coating is mainly composed of Mg, MgO, and some amorphous phase, and it can provide a good protection for the AZ31B alloy. Results from corrosive morphology indicate that the growth and the corrosion resistance of the phosphate conversion coating are related to the forming process of the AZ31B matrix.

Cerium Chemical Conversion Coating on a Novel Mg-Li Alloy

A novel Mg-Li alloy was treated in a cerium nitrate solution and cerium chemical conversion coating was obtained on the alloy. Then the forming process, structure and corrosion resistance of the coating were investigated. The influential factors of cerium conversion coating were discussed through orthogonal experiments, and the optimum processing parameters were confirmed. XPS spectra displayed that the conversion coating consisted of cerium compounds, and the major component of the protective layer was a mixture of Ce （IV） oxide and Ce （IV） hydroxide. In addition, XRD pattern illustrated that there was crystalline CeO2 in the conversion coating. Analysis by SEM showed that the cerium conversion coating was uniform with a fiber-like morphology. The thickness of the conversion coating was 12 μm. The results of electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization and hydrogen evolution measurement indicated that the cerium conversion coating provided effective protection to the novel Mg-Li alloy.

Self-catalytic degradation of iron-bearing chemical conversion coating on magnesium alloys — Influence of Fe content

A number of industrial and biomedical fields,such as hydraulic fracturing balls for gas and petroleum exploitation and implant materials,require Mg alloys with rapid dissolution.An iron-bearing phosphate chemical conversion(PCC)coating with self-catalytic degradation function was fabricated on the Mg alloy AZ31.Surface morphologies,chemical compositions and degradation behaviors of the PCC coating were investigated through FE-SEM,XPS,XRD,FTIR,electrochemical and hydrogen evolution tests.Results indicated that the PCC coating was characterized by iron,its phosphates and hydroxides,amorphous Mg(OH)2 and Mg3-n(HnPO4)2.The self-catalytic degradation effects were predominately concerned with the Fe concentration,chemical composition and microstructure of the PCC coating,which were ascribed to the galvanic corrosion between Fe in the PCC coating and the Mg substrate.The coating with higher Fe content and porous microstructure exhibited a higher degradation rate than that of the AZ31 substrate,while the coating with a trace of Fe and compact surface disclosed a slightly enhanced corrosion resistance for the AZ31 substrate.

Progress of electroplating and electroless plating on magnesium alloy

The current research processes of electroplating and electroless Ni-P alloy plating on magnesium alloys were reviewed. Theoretically,the reason for difficulties in electroplating and electroless plating on magnesium alloys was given.The zinc immersion, copper immersion,direct electroless Ni-P alloy plating and electroplating and electroless plating on magnesium alloys prepared by chemical conversion coating were presented in detail.Especially,the research development of magnesium alloy AZ91 and AZ31 was discussed briefly.Based on the analysis,the existing problems and future research directions were then given.