Evaluation of tribological behavior of PEO composite coating containing SiO2 particles on 7075 aluminum alloy

Electrolytic plasma oxidation coatings are one of the most important materials used to deal with the wear of aluminum parts due to their compact, sticky and hard nature. In recent years, improving the surface properties of these coatings with the help of adding reinforcement particles has attracted the attention of researchers.

Methods:

 In this study, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process was applied in two modes, normal and composite, to coat aluminum 7075. To produce the composite coating, the same electrolyte as the normal mode was used with the addition of 12 grams per liter of silicon oxide particles. Characterization of coatings was done with the help of SEM, X-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis, roughness measurement and hardness measurement. The tribological behavior of coatings was investigated with the help of pin-on-disk test and the analysis of the wear mechanism of the samples was done with the help of SEM images and EDS analysis of wear surfaces.

Both coatings had a pancake structure with craters. Also, the drainage channels that lead to the porosity of the coatings were less created on the surface of the composite coating. The normal coating was an oxide coating with an amorphous/crystalline nature, but the composite coating had silicon oxide and mullite crystalline phases in addition to these two phases. The lowest weight loss (highest wear resistance) and friction coefficient were obtained for the composite coating. wear mechanism was also observed delamination wear and oxidation wear for substrate, abrasion, adhesive and oxidation  wear for PEO coating, and fine scratch mechanisms and adhesive mechanism with very little effect for composite coating.