High-hardness
and wear-resistant ceramic coatings were obtained
on 5052 aluminum alloy by the microarc oxidation (MAO) process in
silicate electrolytes with different nanoadditives (TiO2, Si3N4), and the effects of different nanoadditives
on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the ceramic coatings
were systematically studied. The microstructure results revealed that
the nanoadditives could improve the thickness and compactness of the
ceramic coatings. The X-ray diffraction results demonstrated that
the nanoadditives were successfully incorporated into the MAO coatings
and that some new phases of Si2N2O and TiN were
formed, enhancing the comprehensive performance of the ceramic coatings.
Furthermore, the distributions of elements determined from energy-dispersive
X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and cross-sectional images displayed a good
homogeneity to support the excellent mechanical properties of the
ceramic coatings. Therefore, the average microhardness, the full indentation
force–depth curves, the hardness and elastic modulus, and the H/E and H
3/E
2 ratios of the ceramic coatings with TiO2 and TiO2 + Si3N4 nanoadditives
delivered a very high hardness, implying good antifriction properties.
Moreover, the friction coefficients of the ceramic coatings also demonstrated
their outstanding wear resistance. Finally, the corrosion resistance
and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results further revealed
the compactness of the ceramic coatings, indicating a high hardness
and abrasion resistance.