Engineering Properties of Anodic Coatings Protecting Aluminum Alloys against Friction and Wear

摘要

As presented in the preceding article, the review of standard tests used to assess the quality of anodized aluminum coatings dealt primarily with the physical and chemical properties of the coating itself. Many of the engineering properties of anodized aluminum alloys depend on not only the physical and chemical properties of anodic coatings but also on their mechanical properties and their effects on substrate properties. After all, the anodic coating on aluminum alloys acts as a shield against the environment when protecting against corrosive atmospheres and becomes the tribological interface under conditions of friction and wear. When applied on high strength aluminum alloys, the anodic coatings are primarily designed for instances where hardness and wear and corrosion resistance are required. This article presents basic information on the hardness of anodized coatings and the effects of these coatings on friction and wear of aluminum and aluminum alloy components.