Fabrication of calcium phosphate coating on pure magnesium substrate via simple chemical conversion coating: surface properties and corrosion performance evaluations

Abstract The main objective of the current work was to fabricate calcium phosphate (CaP) coating on 99.9% purity magnesium, Mg substrate through simple chemical conversion method and evaluated the surface properties and corrosion performance of the coated substrates. The chemical conversion method was done by immersing the samples inside primary phosphating bath and followed by secondary treatment in alkaline solutions. The coated samples from the primary (PRI) and secondary (SEC) coating treatment were analyzed from morphological, topographical, and phase analysis aspects. The corrosion behaviour of the coatings inside simulated body fluid was assessed by potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The PRI and SEC coated were composed of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD) and hydroxyapatite (HA), respectively. Both of the coatings improved the corrosion resistance of the Mg substrate. The corrosion potentials, E corr of the coated samples becomes nobler compared to the bare substrates. EIS shows that the polarization resistance, R p is improved about 40 and 2 times fold for PRI and SEC compared to the uncoated samples. Furthermore, PRI shows better corrosion resistance compared to SEC due to lower porosity along with thicker and better coating coverage.