Plasmachemical oxidation - PCO
The plasmachemical oxidation (PCO) develops anorganic and x-ray amorphous mixed oxide coatings on light metal substrates like aluminium, titanium, magnesium and its alloys. These coatings contain among the oxidised substrate materials also non-stoichiometric compounds formed between electrolytic species and the metallic substrate material. The electrolytic impact on the coating makes it possible to directly influence and vary its formation.
With the formation of the working group electrochemistry at the extra faculty research institute "INNOVENT Technologieentwicklung Jena" in 1999 further fundamental research and development could be done in this field like several years before in the area around Jena. The cross-linking between optimised laboratory equipment, systems engineering and analytical methods delivers good qualifications for the future to achieve sustained success.
The strategic focus from former and actual research is mainly described by the development of different plasmachemical formed coatings on different substrate materials for different applications. This strategy for instance led to new coatings on magnesium alloys in the field of optical device manufacturing.
Further developments occur in the field of functionalised titanum surfaces for medical applications, coatings for aluminium alloys with high silicon contents and electrolytic systems free from chromium for coatings on aluminium alloys.
At the moment it is possible to coat following light metals with the plasmachemical oxidation technology:
Principle of the technology
Typical morphological appearance (SEM)
UV-VIS spectrum of a functional coating on a magnesium alloy
