An elevated temperature infrared emissivity ceramic coating formed on 2024 aluminium alloy by microarc oxidation

An infrared emissivity coating material containing γ-Al2O3 was prepared on 2024 aluminium alloy surface by the microarc oxidation (MAO) method. The microstructure of the coatings was analysed by SEM, XRD and EDS techniques. The infrared emissivity properties tested at 500 °C were investigated by an infrared radiometer based on a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The results show that the infrared emissivity values of coated Al samples depend on the phase composition and surface roughness of the coatings. Corresponding to increasing coatings thickness, the gradually increasing γ-Al2O3 content and some oxide compounds containing Si and P contribute to the higher infrared emissivity value (about 0.85) in the wavelength range of 8–20 μm. The increasing surface roughness leads to an obvious increase in emissivity from 0.2 to 0.4 at wavelength 3–5 μm.