Surface Modification of Magnesium Alloy by Mg₂Si Coating Technology

Abstract

Surface modification technology on magnesium alloys has been developed by using Mg-Si thin films via a glow discharge sputtering process, in employing Mg₂Si bulky materials fabricated by powder metallurgy (PM) process as targets. This is because Mg₂Si sintered materials have high hardness and Young’s modulus, in particular, a superior corrosion resistance to the conventional stainless steel. The Mg-Si thin film, having 1-2µm thickness, deposited on the AZ31 substrate improved the mechanical properties, wear and corrosion resistance compared to the conventional magnesium alloys. In particular, the effect of crystalline/amorphous structures of Mg-Si thin films on these properties was investigated in detail.