Effect of NaOH Concentration on the PEO Film Formation of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy in the Electrolyte Containing Carbonate and Silicate Ions

Anodic film formation behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy was studied as a function of NaOH concentration in 1 M $Na_2CO_3$ + 0.5 M $Na_2SiO_3$ solution under the application of a constant anodic current density, based on the analyses of voltage-time curves, surface appearances and morphologies of the anodically formed PEO (plasma electrolytic oxidation) films. The anodic film formation voltage and its fluctuations became largely lowered with increasing added NaOH concentration in the solution. Two different types of film defects, large size dark spots indented from the original surface and locally extruded white spots, were observed on the PEO-treated surface, depending on the concentration of added NaOH. The large size dark spots appeared only when added NaOH concentration is less than 0.2 M and they seem to result from the local detachments of porous PEO films. The white spots were observed to be very porous and locally extruded and their size became smaller with increasing added NaOH concentration. The white spot defects disappeared completely when more than 0.8 M NaOH is added in the solution. Concludingly it is suggested that the presence of enough concentration of $OH^-$ ions in the carbonate and silicate ion-containing electrolyte can prevent local thickening and/or detachment of the PEO films on the AZ31 Mg alloy surface and lower the PEO film formation voltage less than 70 V.