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Magnetron sputtering was used to deposit (Ti, Al)N films with different Al/Ti atomic ratios by changing the current of the Al target and to study their tribological properties. The phase composition, microstructure and elemental distribution of films were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The influence of the ratio between Al and Ti atoms on the tribological properties and the mechanical properties of the films was analyzed. The conclusions showed that there was a tendency for films to shift from the crystalline to the amorphous state as the Al/Ti atomic ratio increases. Herein, changes in film microhardness were related to the substitution relationship between Ti atoms and Al atoms. Especially, when the Al/Ti atomic ratio was 0.54, coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate were the lowest. Compared with TiN film, (Ti, Al)N films have higher microhardness due to the solid solution hardening caused by the substitution between Al and Ti atoms to produce lattice distortion. These factors make films have excellent tribology performance.

Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings were prepared on the AZ31 Mg alloy under the constant/gradient current control modes. The effects of current output modes on the growth rate, energy consumption, microstructure, and corrosion resistance of MAO coatings were studied. The results shows that the current step-down mode (G852) exhibited a lower unit energy consumption than the constant current mode (C5) and the current step-up mode (G258), even though the same average current density current was used during MAO process. Meanwhile, the G852 is conducive to a thick and dense coating, resulting in a better corrosion resistance. The method of energy saving preparation of corrosion resistant MAO coating by adjusting the current mode is of great significance for practical production.

This study aimed to prepare self-lubricating micro-arc oxidation (MAO)/graphite composite coatings on 6061 aluminium alloy by adding graphite nanoparticles into an alkaline electrolyte during the MAO process. The microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of MAO coatings were studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that graphite nanoparticles can be coated uniformly in the MAO coatings, and the porosity and surface roughness of the MAO coatings were reduced by the addition of graphite nanoparticles. However, when the content of graphite nanoparticles was more than 6 g l ^−1 , graphite aggregation occurred. The wear resistance of the coatings was investigated using the ball-on-disk friction tester. After incorporating the graphite nanoparticles, the MAO coatings showed excellent self-lubricating properties and a reduction in the friction coefficient during the wear process. In addition, the MAO coatings showed the best result with the addition of 4 g l ^−1 graphite nanoparticles compared with all the other composite coatings under investigation. In conclusion, the incorporation of graphite nanoparticles improved the wear properties of the MAO coatings.

Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating was initially prepared on 6061 Al alloy, and subsequently coated with Ag using magnetron sputtering. Laser beam scan (LBS) treatments were then applied to infiltrate the sputtered Ag into the MAO coating in order to simulate the corrosion behaviour of the MAO coating during the neutral salt spray test (NSST). Cross-sectional morphologies and Ag element distribution maps were studied by using the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) on the MAO-Ag coated samples after LBS infiltration. The results showed that there existed the micro-cracks with tree-root or lightning shape within the MAO coating. Interconnected aggregates, including micro-pores, large cavities far beneath the surface and tree-root like micro-cracks, served as complex corrosion channels during salt spray corrosion. Through these corrosion channels, the salt spray penetrated gradually into the interface between the MAO coating and the original Al substrate, thus causing corrosion of the Al substrate during the NSST. The LBS treatment is presented as a method to explore the subtle micro-crack and pore channels associated to the MAO coating and to provide information that paves the way towards understanding of corrosion phenomena in these porous systems.

Aluminum nitride (AlN) films were deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering using two high purity aluminum targets, at selected target current densities (0.055, 0.083, 0.110 and 0.138 A cm ^−2 ). The effects of the target current density on the ionization rate of Al atoms, morphology, chemical composition, crystal structure and breakdown strength of AlN films were studied by self-made device, SEM, XPS, XRD and withstanding voltage tester. It was found that the ionization rate of Al atoms gradually increased from 6% to 19% as target current density increased to 0.138 A cm ^−2 . The results of XPS showed that the Al/N atomic ratio of AlN films gradually approached 1:1. Compared with low target current densities, the AlN films deposited at 0.110 and 0.138 A cm ^−2 exhibited a fine-crystal structure with average grain size