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Anodized aluminum (Al) and Al alloys have a wide range of applications. However, certain anodized finishings have relatively low hardness, dull appearance and/or poor corrosion resistance, which limited their applications. In this research, Al was first electropolished in a phosphoric acid-based solution, then anodized in a sulfuric acid-based solution under controlled processing parameters. The anodized specimen was then sealed by two-step sealing method. A systematic study including microstructure, surface morphology, hardness and corrosion resistance of these anodized films has been conducted. Results show that the hardness of this new anodized film was increased by a factor of 10 compared with the pure Al metal. Salt spray corrosion testing also demonstrated the greatly improved corrosion resistance. Unlike the traditional hard anodized Al which presents a dull-colored surface, this newly developed anodized Al alloy possesses a very bright and shiny surface with good hardness and corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold (Au) coatings are widely used for electrical contacts in devices, decoration and jewelry. However, the relatively low hardness and poor wear resistance of pure Au coatings lead to a short service life and limit their application. Ni is frequently used as an alloying element to enhance the hardness but it lowers the conductivity of Au coatings. In this research, Co was co-deposited as an alloying element with Au to improve its mechanical properties while maintaining conductivity. TiO2 sol in different concentrations was added to the Au-Co plating bath to further enhance the coating strength. Systematic studies including surface morphology, hardness, wear resistance and electrical conductivity have been carried out. Key results from nanoindentation tests demonstrated that the hardness of Au-Co-TiO2 composite coating was increased by 30% when compared to a pure Au-Co coating, while the electrical conductivity has been kept at the same level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]