The voltage-current properties during plasma electrolytic discharge were determined by measuring the current density and cell voltage as functions of processing time and then by mathematical transformation. Correlation between discharge I-V property and the coatings microstructure on aluminum alloy during plasma electrolytic oxidation was determined by comparing the voltage-current properties at different process stages with SEM results of the corresponding coatings. The results show that the uniform passive film corresponds to a I-V property with one critical voltage, and a compound of porous layer and sintered ceramic particles corresponds to a I-V property with two critical voltages. The growth regularity of PEO cermet coatings was also studied.
Multilayer ceramic coatings were fabricated on steel substrate using a combined technique of hot dipping aluminum(HDA) and plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO). A triangle of normalized layer thickness was created for describing thickness ratios of HDA/PEO coatings. Then, the effect of thickness ratio on stresses field of HDA/PEO coatings subjected to uniform normal contact load was investigated by finite element method. Results show that the surface tensile stress is mainly affected by the thickness ratio of Al layer when the total thickness of coating is unchanged. With the increase of Al layer thickness, the surface tensile stress rises quickly. When Al2O3 layer thickness increases, surface tensile stress is diminished. Meanwhile, the maximum shear stress moves rapidly towards internal part of HDA/PEO coatings. Shear stress at the Al2O3 /Al interface is minimal when Al2O3 layer and Al layer have the same thickness.
