THE EFFECT OF ELECTROLYTE ON THE ANODIZED FINISH OF A MAGNESIUM ALLOY

Anodization was studied as a finishing technique for decorative, durab le and corrosion-resistant coatings on magnesium, The influence of sol ution electrolytes On the process of anodization and the resulting por ous surface film was also investigated, Certain electrolytes, includin g aluminate and tetraborate, contribute to film thickness and structur e, while other electrolytes, such as fluoride and phosphate, contribut e to film color, opacity, and uniformity of finish, Control of the spa rking process, inherent in magnesium anodization, is also affected by hath components that do not otherwise contribute to the magnesium anod ized coating, Polarization resistances of fluoride or phosphate anodiz ed alloys show a ten-fold increase in protection vs, a non-anodized su rface.