Jiaan Liu

Characterization and property of microarc oxidation coatings on open-cell aluminum foams

The ceramic coatings were prepared on open-cell aluminum foams by microarc oxidation (MAO) treatment in an alkaline-silicon electrolyte. The morphology, microstructure, elemental distribution, and phase composition of the MAO coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The corrosion behaviors of the coated and uncoated foams were evaluated by electrochemical polarization measurement. The results show that the MAO coatings cover the surface of open-cell aluminum foams. The coatings were composed of an external porous layer and an internal dense layer. The main phase of the MAO coating phase is γ-Al2O3. The coated aluminum foams exhibit more positive corrosion potential and lower corrosion current density compared with the uncoated aluminum foams.

Electroless Ni–P deposition with vanadium based coating as pretreatment on AZ91D magnesium alloy

Abstract A vanadium-based conversion coating is proposed as an effective pretreatment for electroless Ni–P deposition on AZ91D magnesium alloy. The magnesium alloy substrate was immersed in a NaVO3 solution with various parameters such as the vanadium concentration, immersion time and bath temperature being varied. The results reveal the quality and corrosion protection performance of the coating increases with increasing treatment time up to a limit. However, excess treatment time induces the formation of cracks in the coating layer, leading to reduced corrosion resistance of the conversion coating. Increasing bath temperature decreases the crack density and increases the thickness of the conversion layer. Electrochemical polarisation results showed that the vanadium treatment in a bath containing NaVO3 of concentration 30 g L−1 at 80°C for 15–20 min gives good corrosion resistance. This optimum vanadium treatment was used as a pretreatment for the subsequent electroless Ni–P deposit and it had good passive parameters, showing better corrosion protection on AZ91D substrate than a chromium based treatment.

Corrosion and mechanical properties of AM50 magnesium alloy after being modified by 1 wt.% rare earth element gadolinium

Abstract In order to improve the corrosion and mechanical properties of AM50 magnesium alloy, 1 wt.% Gd was used to modify the AM50 magnesium alloy. The microstructure, corrosion and mechanical properties were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), electrochemical and mechanical stretch methods. The results indicated that β-Mg17Al12 phase decreased and Al2Gd3 and Al0.4GdMn1.6 phase existed after Gd addition. Because of the Gd addition, the grain of AM50 magnesium alloy was refined significantly, which improved the tensile strength of AM50 magnesium alloy. The decreasing of β phase improved the corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloy. The fracture mechanism of the Gd modified AM50 magnesium alloy was quasi-cleavage fracture. The corrosion residual strength (CRS) of AM50 magnesium alloy was improved after 1 wt.% Gd addition.

Influence of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria on the Corrosion Residual Strength of an AZ91D Magnesium Alloy

In this paper, the corrosion residual strength of the AZ91D magnesium alloy in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria is studied. In the experiments, the chemical composition of corrosion film was analyzed by a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. In addition, a series of instruments, such as scanning electronic microscope, pH-meter and an AG-10TA materials test machine, were applied to test and record the morphology of the corrosion product, fracture texture and mechanical properties of the AZ91D magnesium alloy. The experiments show that the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) play an important role in the corrosion process of the AZ91D magnesium alloy. Pitting corrosion was enhanced by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Corrosion pits are important defects that could lead to a significant stress concentration in the tensile process. As a result, sulfate-reducing bacteria influence the corrosion residual strength of the AZ91D magnesium alloy by accelerating pitting corrosion.

Sound Absorption Characteristics of Aluminum Foams Treated by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation

Open-celled aluminum foams with different pore sizes were fabricated. A plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment was applied on the aluminum foams to create a layer of ceramic coating. The sound absorption coefficients of the foams were measured by an impedance tube and they were calculated by a transfer function method. The experimental results show that the sound absorption coefficient of the foam increases gradually with the decrease of pore size. Additionally, when the porosity of the foam increases, the sound absorption coefficient also increases. The PEO coating surface is rough and porous, which is beneficial for improvement in sound absorption. After PEO treatment, the maximum sound absorption of the foam is improved to some extent.

Compressive Properties of Open-Cell Al Hybrid Foams at Different Temperatures

Hybrid Ni/Al foams were fabricated by depositing electroless Ni–P (EN) coatings on open-cell Al foam substrate to obtain enhanced mechanical properties. The microstructure, chemical components and phases of the hybrid foams were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The mechanical properties of the foams were studied by compressive tests at different temperatures. The experiment results show that the coating is mainly composed of Ni and P elements. There was neither defect at the interface nor crack in the coatings, indicating that the EN coatings had fine adhesion to the Al substrate. The compressive strengths and energy absorption capacities of the as-received foam and hybrid foams decrease with the increasing testing temperatures, but the hybrid foams exhibit a lower decrement rate than the as-received foam. This might be attributed to the different failure mechanisms at different testing temperatures, which is conformed by fractography observation.

A new method to prepare MgO and base for further electroless nickel deposition on magnesium substrate

The present research uses the safer hydrogen halide to prepare the MgO-MgI2/MgBr2 layers onto AZ91 magnesium alloy in alkaline solution. The water-soluble metal salts (MgI2/MgBr2) were not responsible for the corrosion protection; whereas Mg(OH)2 formed first and then converted to MgO by heat-treatments and this MgO was responsible for the corrosion protection. The electrochemical results showed that the development of MgO mitigated the corrosion process and improved the corrosion resistance. This new treatment was then used as a pre-treatment for further electroless nickel (EN) deposition and it showed the good corrosion current density and better corrosion potential on the magnesium substrate. This new treatment and EN depositions were characterised by XPS and SEM. The electrochemical polarisation and EIS test of these EN depositions were evaluated in 3.5 wt.% NaCl. In addition, pitting behaviour of these EN depositions were evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry test.

EFFECT OF BATH pH ON ELECTROLESS Ni-P COATING DEPOSITED ON OPEN-CELL ALUMINUM FOAMS

Different electroless Ni–P coatings were deposited on open-cell aluminum foams at various bath pH. The effect of bath pH on the morphology, structure, components, phases and corrosion resistance of the Ni–P coating was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), immersion test and electrochemical polarization measurement, respectively. The experimental results show that the bath pH not only changed the reactivity of the bath, but also had a influence on the microstructure and anticorrosive property of electroless Ni–P coating. The high pH bath raises the thickness of Ni–P coating but decreases the content of phosphorus element in the Ni–P coating. The corrosion resistance of the coated aluminum foams increases when the bath pH rises.