Influence of Process Modes of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation of Aluminum Alloys on the Structure and Properties of Protective Oxide-Ceramic Coatings

The results from the studies into electrical modes of the high-frequency, high-voltage plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on the properties of the formed protective coatings on the B95 T1 and D16ch T aluminum alloys are presented. The control of the PEO process was carried out by changing the amplitude values of anode and cathode voltage pulses. The local mechanical characteristics and the structure of the PEO coatings were studied using instrumented indentation and scanning electron microscopy. As a result of the studies, optimal modes of the PEO process were determined: potentiodynamic modes with a smooth decrease in the amplitude of anode voltage pulses at a speed of 5 V/min and a smooth increase in the amplitude of cathode voltage pulses at a speed of 1 V/min. The coatings formed in the optimal modes of the PEO were characterized by a reduced number of defects (microcracks, craters, pores) and high values of hardness of 27.5–27.8 GPa and elastic modulus of 286–309 GPa averaged over their thickness. These characteristics turned out to be higher by 33–45 and 15–30%, respectively, compared with a hardness and elastic modulus of the coatings formed in other studied PEO modes.