Spectroscopic study of plasma during electrolytic oxidation of magnesium- and aluminium-alloy

We present the results of an optical emission spectroscopy study of Plasma during Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) of magnesium- and aluminum-alloy. Plasma electron number density Ne diagnostics is performed either from the Hβ line shape or from the width or shift of non-hydrogenic ion lines of aluminum and magnesium. The line profile analysis of the Hβ suggests presence of two PEO processes characterized by relatively low electron number densities Ne≈1.2×1015 cm−3 and Ne≈2.3×1016 cm−3. Apart from these two low Ne processes, there is the third one related to the ejection of evaporated anode material through micro-discharge channels. This process is characterized by larger electron density Ne=(1.2-1.6)1017 cm−3, which is detected from the shape and shift of aluminum and magnesium singly charged ion lines. Two low Ne values detected from the Hβ and large Ne measured from the widths and shift of ion lines suggest presence of three types of discharges during PEO with aluminum- and magnesium-alloy anode. On the basis of present and earlier results one can conclude that low Ne processes do not depend upon anode material or electrolyte composition.The electron temperature of 4000 K and 33,000 K are determined from relative intensities of Mg I and O II lines, respectively. The attention is drawn to the possibility of Ne application for Te evaluation using Saha equation what is of importance for PEO metal plasma characterization. During the course of this study, difficulties in the analysis of spectral line shapes are encountered and the ways to overcome some of the obstacles are demonstrated.

► Optical emission spectroscopy of plasma during electrolytic oxidation. ► Spectral line profiles of the H-beta and non-hydrogenic singly charged ion lines of aluminum and magnesium. ► Experimental line profiles with complex structure. ► Three plasma processes involved. ► The application of Saha equation for the process with metal plasma formation justified.