Hong-Zhi Cui

Corrosion of molybdate intercalated hydrotalcite coating on AZ31 Mg alloy

A molybdate intercalated hydrotalcite (HT-MoO42−) coating with a nanosized lamellar structure was synthesized on AZ31 Mg alloy by a combination of the co-precipitation and hydrothermal processes. The characteristics of the coatings were investigated by SEM, EPMA, XRD, EDS and FT-IR. The corrosion resistance of the coatings was assessed by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectrum, and hydrogen evolution. The results indicated that the HT-MoO42− coating, characterized by interlocking plate-like nanostructures, ion-exchange and self-healing ability, has a potential to be a “smart” coating capable of responding to stimuli from the environment.

Influence of solution temperature on corrosion resistance of Zn-Ca phosphate conversion coating on biomedical Mg-Li-Ca alloys

The influence of phosphating bath at different temperatures on the formation and corrosion property of calcium-modified zinc phosphate conversion coating (Zn-Ca-P coating) on Mg-Li-Ca alloy was investigated. The morphologies, elemental distribution and chemical structures of the coatings were examined via SEM, EPMA, EDS, XRD and FT-IR. The corrosion resistance was assessed by hydrogen evolution, potentiodynamic polarization and EIS. The results show that the coating is composed of single element Zn and ZnO at below 45 °C; whereas the coatings are predominantly characterized by Zn3(PO4)2·4H2O and small amount of element zinc and ZnO at above 50 °C. Mg-Li-Ca alloy with Zn-Ca-P coatings prepared at 55 °C has the highest corrosion resistance. However, the hydrogen evolution rates of the coatings obtained at 40–50 °C is accelerated due to the galvanic corrosion between the imperfection of the single element Zn coating and the Mg substrate.

In vitro degradation of MAO/PLA coating on Mg--1.21Li--1.12Ca--1.0Y alloy

Magnesium and its alloys are promising biomaterials due to their biocompatibility and osteoinduction. The plasticity and corrosion resistance of commercial magnesium alloys cannot meet the requirements for degradable biomaterials completely at present. Particularly, the alkalinity in the microenvironment surrounding the implants, resulting from the degradation, arouses a major concern. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composite (MAO/PLA) coating on biomedical Mg-1.21Li-1.12Ca-1.0Y alloy was prepared to manipulate the pH variation in an appropriate range. Surface morphologies were discerned using SEM and EMPA. And corrosion resistance was evaluated via electrochemical polarization and impedance and hydrogen volumetric method. The results demonstrated that the MAO coating predominantly consisted of MgO, Mg2SiO4 and Y2O3. The composite coating markedly improved the corrosion resistance of the alloy. The rise in solution pH for the MAO/PLA coating was tailored to a favorable range of 7.5–7.8. The neutralization caused by the alkalinity of MAO and Mg substrate and acidification of PLA was probed. The result designates that MAO/PLA composite coating on Mg-1.21Li-1.12Ca-1.0Y alloys may be a promising biomedical coating.

Corrosion resistance of in-situ Mg−Al hydrotalcite conversion film on AZ31 magnesium alloy by one-step formation

Abstract In situ growth of nano-sized layered double hydroxides (LDH) conversion film on AZ31 alloy was synthesized by a urea hydrolysis method. The formation mechanism of the film was proposed. Firstly, the dissolved Mg2+ ions deposited into a precursor film consisted of MgCO3 and Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2· 4H2O; secondly, the precursor translated into the crystalline Mg(OH)2 in alkaline conditions; finally, the Mg2+ ions in Mg(OH)2 were replaced by Al3+ ions, Mg(OH)2 translated into the more stable LDH structure, simultaneously, the OH− ions in the interlayer were exchanged by, thus led to the formation of the LDH (Mg6Al2(OH)16CO3·4H2O) film. The results indicated that the LDH film characterized by interlocking plate-like nanostructures and ion-exchange ability significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the AZ31 Mg alloy.

Corrosion Resistance of Superhydrophobic Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxide Coatings on Aluminum Alloys

AbstractA superhydrophobic surface was successfully constructed to modify the layered double hydroxide (LDH) coatings on aluminum alloy using stearic acid. The characteristics of the coatings were investigated using SEM, XRD, FT-IR and XPS. The corrosion resistance of the prepared coatings was studied using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectrum. The results revealed that the superhydrophobic surface considerably improved the corrosion-resistant performance of the LDH coatings on the aluminum alloy substrate. The formation mechanism of the superhydrophobic surface was proposed.

Corrosion resistance of Zn–Al layered double hydroxide/ poly(lactic acid) composite coating on magnesium alloy AZ31

A Zn–Al layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH) coating consisted of uniform hexagonal nano-plates was firstly synthesized by co-precipitation and hydrothermal treatment on the AZ31 alloy, and then a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) coating was sealed on the top layer of the ZnAl-LDH coating using vacuum freeze-drying. The characteristics of the ZnAl-LDH/PLA composite coatings were investigated by means of XRD, SEM, FTIR and EDS. The corrosion resistance of the coatings was assessed by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that the ZnAl-LDH coating contained a compact inner layer and a porous outer layer, and the PLA coating with a strong adhesion to the porous outer layer can prolong the service life of the ZnAl-LDH coating. The excellent corrosion resistance of this composite coating can be attributable to its barrier function, ion-exchange and self-healing ability.

Corrosion of in-situ grown MgAl-LDH coating on aluminum alloy

MgAl-layered double hydroxides (LDH) coatings were fabricated by the in-situ hydrothermal treatment method on the AA5005 aluminum alloy. The characteristics of the coatings were investigated by XRD, FT-IR, SEM and EDS. The effect of the pH value of the solution on the formation of the LDH coatings was studied. The optimum pH value of the solution was 10.0. The corrosion resistance of the LDH coatings was studied using potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS). The results demonstrate that the LDH coatings, characterized by platelets vertically to the substrate surface possess excellent corrosion resistance. The influence of the hydrothermal crystallization time on the corrosion resistance was evaluated. Prolonging the crystallization time can increase the corrosion resistance of the obtained LDH coatings. The anticorrosion mechanism of the LDH coatings was discussed.

Microstructure and formation mechanism of Ni-Al intermetallic compounds fabricated by reaction synthesis

Ni-Al intermetallic compounds from Ni and Al powder were obtained by thermal explosion. Effects of molar ratio of Ni to Al in raw materials on the phases, microstructures and microhardness of the final products were studied. The results show that a single phase of NiAl is obtained with the composition corresponding to n(Ni):n(Al)=1:1. However, when the molar ratio of Ni to Al increases to 2:1, the product is composed of Ni3Al and NiAl, in which NiAl phase is in the majority with an irregular morphology and Ni3Al is in the minority mainly along the grain boundary of the NiAl. As the molar ratio of Ni to Al continues to increase to 3:1, the microstructures of the product are diversified. Lots of M-NiAl with needle-like or long lathing shape and many γ′-Ni3Al with irregular and pointed strip-like morphology even appear besides β-NiAl with dendritic structure, γ-Ni3Al with irregular or net-like morphology because of the non-equilibrium cooling and large difference in composition of β-NiAl.

Effect of NiAl content on phases and microstructures of TiC–TiB2–NiAl composites fabricated by reaction synthesis

Abstract TiC–TiB2–NiAl composites were fabricated by self-propagating high temperature reaction synthesis(SHS) with Ti, B4C, Ni and Al powders as raw materials. The effects of NiAl content on phase constituents and microstructures were investigated. The results show that the reaction products are composed of TiB2, TiC and NiAl. The content of NiAl increases with the adding of Ni+Al in green compacts. TiB2, TiC and NiAl grains present in different shapes in the matrix, TiB2 being in hexagonal or rectangular shapes, TiC in spherical shapes, and NiAl squeezed into the gaps of TiC and TiB2 grains. With the increase of NiAl content, the grains of TiC–TiB2–NiAl composites are refined, their density and compressive strength are improved, and the shapes of TiC grains become spherical instead of irregular ones. Finally, the fracture mechanism of the composites transforms from intergranular fracture mode to the compounded fracture mode of intergranular fracture and transgranular fracture.

In vitro corrosion of Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-1.5Nd/0.5Y alloys

The microstructure evaluation, surface morphology, chemical compositions and phase analysis of the biomedical Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-1.5Nd/0.5Y (ZMT614-1.5Nd/0.5Y) alloys were investigated by means of optical microscopy, EPMA, X-ray EDS, XRD and FTIR. The corrosion behavior was evaluated using weight-loss measurement, hydrogen evolution, electrochemical and pH measurements. The results demonstrate that the microstructure for both ZMT614-1.5Nd alloy and ZMT614-0.5Y alloy is characterized by α-Mg and intermetallic compounds, most of which are distributed along the grain boundaries. These second phases contain Mg2Zn, Mg2Zn11, Mg2Sn and single metal Mn, together with Mg12Nd phase for the ZMT614-1.5Nd alloy, and with Mg24Y5 phase for the ZMT614-0.5Y alloy. Honeycomb-like corrosion product layers form. The corrosion resistance of the ZMT614-0.5Y alloy is higher than that of the ZMT614-1.5Nd alloy, which is ascribed to the addition of the element Y into the alloy delaying the corrosion initiation in comparison to that of Nd element in the alloy.