Characterization of the plasma electrolytic oxidation of aluminium in sodium tungstate

Morphology, composition and microhardness of oxide coatings formed during DC plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of aluminium in sodium tungstate were investigated. Oxide coatings were characterized by optical emission spectroscopy, AFM, SEM–EDS and XRD. Oxide coatings morphology is strongly dependent on process duration, while microhardness decreases with extended PEO time. The microdischarges characteristics were studied as well and it is shown that size of microdischarges becomes larger, while the surface density of microdischarge sites becomes lower, with increasing PEO time. Optical emission spectrum of microdischarges has several intensive band peaks caused by electronic transition in Al, W, Na, O, H atoms.