Anodized coating for magnesium

Abstract

A method of producing an abrasion resistant anodized coating on a magnesium containing article. The method including mixing a chemical slurry including a quantity of an aqueous soluble hydroxide, a fluoride composition, at least one of silicate or vanadate, and between about 5 g/L and about 150 g/L of at least one physical property modifying agent, immersing a magnesium containing article in the chemical slurry, and applying at least one of an electrical current or electrical potential to the magnesium containing article to promote a chemical reaction on a surface of the magnesium containing article resulting in the growth of an abrasion resistant porous magnesium oxide layer on a surface of the magnesium containing article.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing an anodized coating on a magnesium containing article, the method comprising:
 mixing of chemical slurry including a quantity of an aqueous soluble hydroxide, a fluoride composition, at least one of silicate or vanadate, and between about 5 g/L and about 150 g/L of at least one physical property modifying agent;   immersing a magnesium containing article in the chemical slurry; and   applying at least one of an electrical current or electrical potential to the magnesium containing article to promote a chemical reaction on a surface of the magnesium containing article resulting in the growth of a porous magnesium oxide layer on a surface of the magnesium containing article containing at least elements of the one or more physical property modifying agents.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical property modifying agent is zinc oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the zinc oxide has at least one of a particle size of between about 10 μm and about 100 μm, or a particle size of between about 10 nm and about 100 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the zinc oxide is added to the chemical slurry in an amount of about 14 g/L or more. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the zinc oxide is added to the chemical slurry in an amount of about 35 g/L or more. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein elements of the one or more physical property modifying agents are more highly concentrated in structure surrounding pores of the magnesium oxide layer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnesium containing article exhibits at least one of improved hardness or abrasion resistance after growth of the porous magnesium oxide layer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical property modifying agent is at least one of diamond particles, garnet particles, silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, polytetrafluoroethylene, or molybdenum disulfide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one physical property modifying agent is in the form of a crystal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical property modifying agent has a particle size of less than one-fifth of an average pore size of the porous magnesium oxide layer. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the magnesium containing article exhibits an alteration of at least one of a hardness, abrasion resistance, surface lubricity, color, and/or electrical conductivity of the magnesium oxide layer. 
     
     
         12 . An anodized coating method comprising:
 growing a porous magnesium oxide layer on a surface of a magnesium containing article, wherein the porous magnesium oxide layer includes concentrations of zinc surrounding structure defining pores of the magnesium oxide layer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising mixing a chemical slurry including a quantity of an aqueous soluble hydroxide, a fluoride composition, at least one of silicate or vanadate, and between about 5 g/L and about 150 g/L of zinc oxide. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the zinc oxide has at least one of a particle size of between about 10 nm and about 100 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the zinc oxide is added to the chemical slurry in an amount of about 14 g/L or more. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the zinc oxide is added to the chemical slurry in an amount of about 35 g/L or more. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the porous magnesium oxide layer further includes at least one of diamond particles, garnet particles, silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, polytetrafluoroethylene, or molybdenum disulfide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the porous magnesium oxide layer further includes at least one physical property modifying agent in the form of a crystal. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the magnesium containing article exhibits an alteration of at least one of a hardness, abrasion resistance, surface lubricity, color, and/or electrical conductivity of the magnesium oxide layer. 
     
     
         20 . A magnesium containing article having an abrasion resistant anodized coating, the magnesium containing article comprising:
 a magnesium containing substrate; and   a porous magnesium oxide growth layer on the surface of the magnesium containing substrate including concentrations of zinc in structure surrounding pores of the magnesium oxide layer.