Effect of Zr(SO 4 ) 2 on the characteristics of micro-arc oxidation coatings on TA18 alloy

Abstract The inherent corrosion susceptibility of titanium alloys constrains their deployment in aggressive environments, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) represents an effective remediation strategy. In this study, ZrO 2 /TiO 2 MAO composite coatings were in situ synthesized by adjusting the concentration of Zr(SO 4 ) 2 in the electrolyte, and the effect on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of the MAO coatings were studied. Compared with the bare TA18 substrate, the surface performance of the MAO coated TA18 improved significantly. With the introduction of Zr(SO 4 ) 2 , the surface morphology was refined and the hardness, thickness, and wear resistance of the MAO coating were improved. When the Zr(SO 4 ) 2 concentration is 0.75 g l −1 , the corrosion rate and wear rate reach their lowest values of 2.2776 × 10 −2 mpy and 0.6644 × 10 −6 mm 3 m −1 N −1 .