Effects of KTiF and Electrolyte Temperatures on Energy Consumption and Properties of MAO Coatings on 6063 Aluminum Alloy.

To decrease energy consumption and improve the performance of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) films on 6063 Al alloy, a policy of KTiF additive and electrolyte temperature control was adapted. The specific energy consumption relied on the KTiF additive and more particularly on the electrolyte temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that electrolytes with 5 g/L KTiF can effectively seal the surface pores and increase the thickness of the compact inner layer.

Effect of Pre-Anodized Film on Micro-Arc Oxidation Process of 6063 Aluminum Alloy.

In the current investigation, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) ceramic coatings on aluminum are galvanostatically synthesized at various processing stages in an alkaline silicate system. The resultant coatings are systematically investigated in terms of the following respects: The working voltage and surface sparking evolution over the studied course of MAO are recorded by the signal acquisition system and the real-time imaging, respectively; the phase composition, the surface morphology, and the polished cross-section of the coatings are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) assisted with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), respectively. In particular, with the help of a low-rate increase in working voltage, the evolution of the sparks, the energy consumption, and the microstructure development of aluminum in alkaline silicate electrolyte by pre-anodizing are systematically investigated.