Abstract
A plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating was produced on 6061 aluminum alloy within a silicate-containing electrolyte using a bipolar pulsed power supply. The impact of K(2)ZrF(6) addition on the wear resistance of the coating was investigated. The phase composition, surface morphology, and elemental distribution of the coatings were assessed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Experimental data revealed that the growth rate of the coating increased by 37.3% compared to that without K(2)ZrF(6); the addition of K(2)ZrF(6) favored the formation of mullite and enhanced the coating densification; it also improved the breakdown voltage of the coating, which increased by 46.0% compared to that without K(2)ZrF(6); and it also demonstrated excellent abrasion resistance, with a reduction of 41.8% in the weight of the abrasion.