Characterization of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings formed on Mg–Li alloy in an alkaline polyphosphate electrolyte

Blue and white ceramic coatings have been successfully fabricated on the surface of Mg–Li alloys by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in an alkaline polyphosphate electrolyte with and without addition of titania sol. The influence of titania sol on the surface morphology, microstructure, phase composition, chemical composition, corrosion resistance, mechanical and tribological behavior of ceramic coatings was scrutinized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thin-film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), potentiodynamic polarization, nanoindentation measurements, and ball-on-cylinder friction testing. The blue ceramic coating containing MgO, TiO2 and Ti2O3 phase exhibits better anticorrosion and tribological performance due to its higher nanohardness and lower friction coefficient.