2026 Kharytonau Chitosan Phosphate WE43 Coatings

Chitosan-based coatings can be effectively used for tailoring degradation profiles of biomedical magnesium alloys. In this work, chitosan-phosphate coordinated coatings were for the first time deposited on WE43 magnesium alloy by the electrophoretic deposition approach. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to characterize the surface morphology and composition of the coatings, along with dynamic and classical electrochemical impedance spectroscopy used to evaluate the initial stages of their degradation profiles in Hank’s solution. The results demonstrated that incorporation of small amounts of phosphate ions into the chitosan matrix significantly modified the morphology of the coatings and improved their short- and long-time corrosion resistance, with impedance values up to 2.0–3.5 times higher than in the case of phosphate-free coatings. Phosphate ions also contributed to the formation of a thin conversion phosphate layer on the surface of the Mg substrate during the deposition of the coatings, which plays an important role in corrosion resistance. Obtained results allowed for the proposal of detailed deposition and corrosion mechanisms of the obtained coatings.