3rd TAGRA

Magnesium and its alloys are among the metallic materials attracting attention for biomedical applications due to their low densities, elastic moduli close to those of natural bone, and biodegradable properties. The micro-arc oxidation (MAO) method, used to modify the surface properties of these alloys, is an effective electrochemical surface treatment technique that enables the formation of ceramic-based oxide layers on the surface. Modifying the electrolyte composition with various additives during the MAO process enables the incorporation of different constituents into the coating structure and the development of composite oxide coatings. In this regard, cerium (Ce) is an element that attracts interest in biomaterial research due to its significant functions in biological systems. This study aims to investigate the applicability of producing cerium dioxide (CeO2)-doped composite coatings on WE43 magnesium alloy via the MAO method and the possibility of incorporating Ce-containing constituents into the coating structure. For this purpose, oxide coatings were formed on the surface of the WE43 alloy using the MAO method with undoped and CeO2-doped electrolytes. The phase structure of the resulting coatings was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and elemental composition by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). SEM analyses revealed that a characteristic porous oxide coating structure formed on the WE43 alloy surface following the MAO process and that the addition of CeO2 caused changes in the coating’s surface morphology. While EDS analyses confirmed the presence of Ce in coatings produced using a CeO2-containing electrolyte, XRD analyses enabled the evaluation of the coatings’ crystalline phase structure. The results demonstrated that Ce-containing MAO composite coatings could be successfully produced on the WE43 magnesium alloy using an electrolyte containing CeO2 and that the electrolyte additive influenced the structural and morphological properties of the coating.