TY - JOUR AB - Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effects of deposition time on the structure and anti-corrosion properties of a micro-arc oxidation (MAO)/Al coating on AZ31B Mg alloy.Design/methodology/approach The study describes the fabrication of the coating via a combined process of MAO with multi-arc ion plating. The structure, composition and corrosion resistance of the coatings were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electrochemical methods.Findings The Al-layer is tightly deposited with a good mechanical interlock along the rough interface due to the Al diffusion. However, the Al layer reduces the anti-corrosion of MAO-coated Mg alloy because of structural defects such as droplets and cavities, which act as channels for corrosive media infiltration towards the substrate. Fortunately, the Al layer improves the substrate corrosion resistance owing to its passive behaviour, and the corrosion resistance can be enhanced with increasing deposition time. All results indicate that a buffer layer fabricated through the duplex process improves the interfacial compatibility between the hard coating and soft Mg alloys.Originality/value An MAO/Al duplex coating was fabricated via a combined process of MAO and physical vapour deposition. MAO/Al duplex coatings exhibit obviously passive behaviours on AZ31 Mg alloy. The structure and corrosion resistance of MAO/Al coatings were investigated. VL - 64 IS - 4 SN - 0003-5599 DO - 10.1108/ACMM-04-2016-1666 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-04-2016-1666 AU - Cui Xue-Jun AU - Zhang Ying-Jun AU - Dou Bao-Jie AU - Zeng Xian-Guang AU - Lin Xiu-Zhou PY - 2017 Y1 - 2017/01/01 TI - Deposition time effects on structure and corrosion resistance of duplex MAO/Al coatings on AZ31B Mg alloy T2 - Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials PB - Emerald Publishing Limited SP - 357 EP - 364 Y2 - 2024/04/24 ER -