Fluoride treatment and in vitro corrosion behavior of an AZ31B magnesium alloy

As a new class of biodegradable material, magnesium alloys have attracted much attention in recent years. In order to improve the corrosion resistance, a fluoride coating was prepared on the surface of AZ31B magnesium alloy. The surface characterization analysis showed a dense coating with some irregular pores was formed. The TF-XRD analysis indicated that the coating was mainly composed of MgO and MgF2. Electrochemical and immersion tests proved that the fluoride conversion coating significantly improved the corrosion resistance of AZ31B. Three-point bending test revealed that the degradation behavior of the fluoride treated AZ31B could meet the requirement as a biodegradable material.