Improvement of bio-compatible AZ61 magnesium alloy corrosion resistance by fluoride conversion coating

Magnesium and its alloys are perspective bio-degradable materials used mainly due to their mechanical properties similar to those of mammal bones. Potential problems in utilization of magnesium alloys as bio-materials may relate to their rapid degradation which is associated with resorption problems and intensive hydrogen evolution. These problems can be eliminated by magnesium alloys surface treatment. Therefore, this work aims with analysis of the influence of fluoride conversion coating on corrosion characteristics of magnesium alloy. Unconventional technique by insertion of wrought magnesium alloy AZ61 into molten Na[BF₄] salt at temperature of 450 °C at different treatment times was used for fluoride conversion coating preparation. The consequent effect of the coating on magnesium alloy corrosion was analyzed by means of linear polarization in simulated body fluid solution at 37 ± 2 °C. The obtained results prove that this method radically improve corrosion resistance of wrought AZ61magnesium alloy even in the case of short time of coating preparation.