The Effect of Microarc Oxidation on the Structure and Hardness of Aluminum-Oxide Coatings Formed by Plasma Spraying on Titanium

Abstract

Coatings formed by plasma spraying of electrocorundum on VT6 titanium alloy and subsequent microarc oxidation at different current densities were examined. The parameters of structure and hardness of metal-oxide layers were studied. The effect of current density on them was also found. During microarc oxidation, the open porosity (from 50.3 ± 4.5 to 10.3 ± 1.5%), the thickness (from 47.4 ± 3.3 to 30.2 ± 5.3 μm), and the average size of structural elements of presprayed coating were decreased, while its hardness was increased from 760 ± 486 to 875 ± 238 HV₂. The magnitude of changes in the structure of the plasma coatings depended on the current density during modification. Microarc oxidation makes it possible to form structural elements in the form of pores and crystals with a size from 15 to 150 μm on the surface of sprayed aluminumoxide coatings.