A Porous TiO₂ Coating with Vermiform Morphology Formed on Ti through Micro-Arc Oxidation

Abstract

A porous titania (TiO2) coating with vermiform slots was prepared on the Ti substrate through micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment using sodium tetraborate as electrolyte. Morphologies and phase structure were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Results show that the rutile phase increases and anatase decreases gradually with increasing MAO time. The electrolyte of sodium tetraborate has significant influence on the formation of vermiform coatings, which determine the corrosive patterning in the first stage during MAO processing. The evolution of vermiform morphology is proposed as followed: some corrosive pores appear on the surface before arcing; afterward, the adjacent micropores in the dense regions link each other due to the high temperature result from continuous arc action; then, the micropores grow up to big pits and combine with each other with increasing MAO treating time; finally, the vermiform morphology forms on the surface of Ti metal.