Metal Ions Supported Porous Coatings by Using AC Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation Processing

Coatings enriched with zinc and copper as well as calcium or magnesium, fabricated on titanium substrate by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) under AC conditions (two cathodic voltages, i.e., −35 or −135 V, and anodic voltage of +400 V), were investigated. In all experiments, the electrolytes were based on concentrated orthophosphoric acid (85 wt%) and zinc, copper, calcium and/or magnesium nitrates. It was found that the introduced calcium and magnesium were in the ranges 5.0–5.4 at% and 5.6–6.5 at%, respectively, while the zinc and copper amounts were in the range of 0.3–0.6 at%. Additionally, it was noted that the metals of the block S (Ca and Mg) could be incorporated into the structure about 13 times more than metals of the transition group (Zn and Cu). The incorporated metals (from the electrolyte) into the top-layer of PEO phosphate coatings were on their first (Cu(+)) or second (Cu(2+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)) oxidation states. The crystalline phases (TiO and Ti(3)O) were detected only in coatings fabricated at cathodic voltage of −135 V. It has also been pointed that fabricated porous calcium–phosphate coatings enriched with biocompatible magnesium as well as with antibacterial zinc and copper are dedicated mainly to medical applications. However, their use for other applications (e.g., catalysis and photocatalysis) after additional functionalizations is not excluded.