Characterization and corrosion studies of fluoride conversion coating on degradable Mg implants.pdf

Available online at y 202 (2007) 590–598 /locate/surfcoatSurface Coatings TechnologCharacterization and corrosion studies of fluoride conversion coating on degradable Mg implants K.Y. Chiu a, M.H. Wong a, F.T. Cheng a,?, H.C. Man b a Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China b Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Received 3 February 2007; accepted in revised form 18 June 2007 Available online 29 June 2007Abstract Fluoride conversion coating was synthesized on magnesium (Mg) by immersion treatment in hydrofluoric acid (HF) at room temperature, with the aim of improving the corrosion resistance of Mg in applications as degradable implant material. After an immersion period of 24 h in 48% HF, the samples carried a bronze color, and the conversion coating was dense and free of cracks. Field-emission scanning-electron microscopy (FE-SEM) of the cross-section revealed a coating thickness of about 1.5 μm. Atomic-force microscopy (AFM) recorded an average surface roughness of ～21 nm for the coated sample, similar to that of the untreated one (～17 nm). The coating was mainly composed of magnesium fluoride (MgF2) as identified by thin-film X-ray diffractometry (TF-XRD), consistent with compositional analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The MgF2 was in the form of crystallites of a few nm. A small amount of oxygen was present inside the coating, suggesting that some F? ions are replaced by hydroxyl (OH?) ions in the MgF2 structure, or that a small amount of Mg(OH)2 was present. The corrosion resistance of untreated and conversion coated Mg in Hanks solution was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization tests, and immersion tests. EIS results showed a polarization resistance of 0.18 kΩ cm2 for the untreated Mg and 5.2 kΩ cm2 for the coated sample, giving an improve