Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is an effective surface modification method for producing ceramic oxide layers on metals and their alloys. Although inorganic electrolytes are widely used in PEO, the organic additives have received considerable interest in the last decade due to their roles in improving the final voltage and controlling spark discharging, which lead to significant improvements in the performance of the obtained coatings. Therefore, this review summarized recent progress in the impacts of organic additives on the electrical response and the plasma discharges behavior during the PEO process. The detailed influence of organic additives, namely alcohols, organic acids, organic amines, organic acid salts, carbohydrate compounds, and surfactants on the corrosion behavior of PEO coatings is outlined. Finally, the future aspects and challenges that limit the industrial applications of PEO coating made in organic electrolytes are also highlighted.
Improving the electrochemical stability of AZ31 Mg alloy in a 3.5wt.% NaCl solution via the surface functionalization of plasma electrolytic oxidation coating