Plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings with particle additions - A review

The properties of particle itself, together with electrical and electrolyte parameters during PEO processing determine the way and efficiency of particle uptake and incorporation into the coatings. Normally incorporation of the particles into the coating can range from fully inert to fully reactive. This paper reviews recent progress on particle-containing PEO coatings formed on Mg, Al and Ti alloy substrates. The main focus is given to the uptake mechanism of particle into PEO layers and the introduced microstructural and functional changes.