The Effect of Tightening on the Corrosion Properties of the PVD Layers on Magnesium AZ91D Alloy

Abstract

The corrosive properties of PVD TiN-Ti-Al type composite titanium nitride layer with titanium and aluminium sub-layers system on the AZ91D magnesium alloy and its sub-layers were investigated by using polarization method and impedance spectroscopy, specifically, in terms of the hydrothermal tightening effect. The aim was to explain the mechanisms which contribute to high anticorrosive properties obtained by hydrothermal tightening. It was stated that the hydrothermal treatment changes the surface topography of the examined layers, most probably due to the formation of a continuous titanium oxides film. Tightening significantly modifies the corrosion resistance of the particular component sub-layers of the TiN-Ti-Al layer which exhibits optimum electrochemical parameters. It was shown that the increase of the electrochemical parameters is controlled by tightening of the outside titanium nitride layer, whereas the aluminium sub-layer plays a critical role in creating proper conditions for the hydrothermal tightening of titanium nitride.