Investigation of Ceramic-Like Coatings Formed on Aluminum Composites by Microarc Oxidation

Ceramic-like coatings with a thickness of up to 40 μm are formed on aluminum composites without additives and with copper additives (1 and 4.5%) in a silicate-alkaline electrolyte by microarc oxidation. The composites are prepared by powder metallurgy (cold pressing and sintering in forevacuum). An increase in the copper concentration in the composites to 4.5% leads to the retardation of anode voltage growth on the initial stage of oxidation corresponding to the formation of a barrier layer. The coatings are studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The morphology of their surface corresponds to the morphology of the surface of coatings on compact aluminum alloys. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a thin 1-μm layer forms on the surface. It consists predominantly of electrolyte components. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the coatings mainly consist of γ-Al₂O₃ oxide as well as the η-Al₂O₃ phase, the peaks of which are broadened. This broadening is characteristic of the amorphous component and may be due to the presence of nanocrystalline regions in the coating structure. In the coatings on the composite Al + 4.5% Cu, mullite Al₂SiO₅ and copper oxide CuO are also found. The excess aluminum content may be associated with residual unoxidized aluminum inclusions in the structure of the coatings.