Optimization of PEO coating parameters for the enhancement of wear resistance of AA7075

Abstract Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) effectively enhances the wear behavior of aluminum alloys. However, research on AA7075 alloys, crucial for aerospace and automotive applications, is insufficiently studied. In the present study, we used the Taguchi method to optimize PEO parameters, improving the wear resistance of AA7075. An L9 (3 4 ) orthogonal array was designed with four factors (current density, frequency, duty cycle, and electrolyte concentration) at 3 levels each. The signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) was used to identify optimal conditions, and ANOVA assessed the influence of each factor. Wear rate was evaluated via pin-on-disc tribometry. Results indicated current density as the most influential factor. The optimal parameter set achieved a wear rate of 0.822 × 10 −4 mm 3 /Nm, nearly 14 times better than the AA7075 substrate.