Structure and properties of diffusive titanium nitride layers produced by hybrid method on AZ91D magnesium alloy

A diffusive titanium nitride layers were produced on AZ91D magnesium alloy by a hybrid method which combines the titanium coating physical vapor deposition (PVD) with subsequent nitriding. The layers are composed of a thin surface zone of titanium nitrides and oxides, an intermediate titanium zone and Ti-Al-Mg type diffusive zone. Since the layers improve the corrosion resistance, the best corrosion resistance is obtained when the layers are produced on aluminum base sub-layer by oxynitriding.