Improving wear and corrosion resistance of Al/AlN/CrAlN films on ZE53 magnesium alloy by DC magnetron sputtering
Journal
Surface and Coatings Technology
Journal Volume
525
Start Page
133326
ISSN
02578972
Date Issued
2026-04-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Magnesium alloys possess high specific strength and excellent thermal conductivity, making them promising materials for lightweight applications such as electronics, automotive, and defense systems. However, their poor wear and corrosion resistance significantly limit their practical use. In this study, Al/AlN/CrAlN multilayer coatings were deposited on ZE53 magnesium alloy using DC magnetron sputtering to enhance surface protection. The substrate bias voltage during CrAlN deposition was varied (−50 V, −75 V, −100 V) to investigate its influence on coating microstructure and performance. Increasing the bias voltage enhanced ion bombardment energy, promoting nucleation and refining columnar grains. The CrAlN film deposited at −100 V exhibited the best mechanical properties, with a hardness of 18.68 GPa, the lowest wear rate (1.83 × 10−6 mm3·m−1·N−1), and a narrow wear track width (336.9 μm) under a 4 N load—significantly outperforming the uncoated substrate. Electrochemical tests in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution further confirmed superior corrosion resistance, with a polarization resistance of 43,550.1 Ω·cm2 and a corrosion current density of 0.349 μA·cm−2. Overall, the Al/AlN/CrAlN multilayer coating effectively improves both the wear and corrosion resistance of ZE53 magnesium alloy, demonstrating strong potential for demanding engineering and lightweight structural applications.
Subjects
Chromium aluminum nitride coating
Corrosion
Magnetron sputtering
RE-bearing magnesium–zinc alloy
Wear
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article