The deposited data comes from research on the effect of key manufacturing process parameters (peak current density and frequency) on the micromechanical and sclerometric properties of oxide coatings produced by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on an ultralight LA141 magnesium alloy in an alkaline ternary electrolyte.
The dataset includes the following categories of measurements and corresponding instrumentation:
- Coating thickness measurements:
- Consecutive measured values, as well as average values and standard deviations for each combination of process parameters. Measurements were performed using a Fischer Dualscope MP40 contact eddy current tester (Helmut Fischer GmbH + Co. KG, Sindelfingen, Germany). Each sample was measured at ten points, and the mean coating thickness with standard deviation was calculated.
- Microhardness measurements:
- The micromechanical surface coating properties were determined using a Micro Combi Tester MCT3 (Anton Paar, Corcelles-Cormondrèche, Switzerland) equipped with a Vickers diamond indenter (V-M 86). Tests were conducted in accordance with ISO 14577, using the Oliver–Pharr method to calculate hardness (HIT) and Young’s modulus (EIT). Eight impressions were made on each sample, with distances between them set at 100 µm in both x and y axes.
- Sclerometric (scratch test) parameters:
- Scratch resistance was evaluated using the Micro Combi Tester MCT3 (Anton Paar, Switzerland) following ISO 19252, ISO 20502, ASTM C1624, and ASTM D7027 standards. A diamond Rockwell indenter (100 μm radius) was employed. The test load increased linearly from 0.03 N to 6 N over a scratch length of 6 mm at a speed of 12 mm/min.
- The following characteristic critical loads were determined:
Lc1 – initiation of Hertzian tensile cracks (onset of coating deformation),
Lc2 – onset of visible or cohesive coating damage,
Lc3 – complete coating delamination.
During testing, load (Fn), friction force (Ft), and indenter penetration depth (Pd) were continuously recorded.
- Surface roughness and profilometric parameters:
- Surface roughness parameters Sa and Sz were determined based on profilometric scanning performed using a Form TalySurf Series 2 50i contact profilometer (Taylor Hobson Ltd., Leicester, UK). Three-dimensional scans of the scratch area were obtained using a contact profilometer with a motorized Y-axis stage (Taylor Hobson, Leicester, England). The data were analyzed and visualized using TalyMap 3.2 software (Digital Surf, Besançon, France), including axonometric 3D projections and 2D profiles.
- Surface morphology and elemental composition (complementary data):
- Surface morphology was analyzed using a Hitachi S-4700 scanning electron microscope (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) at ×1000 magnification. Elemental composition was evaluated via Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) using a Noran Vantage system (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) integrated with the SEM.
Data were collected within a full factorial experimental design including two independent factors: peak current density and frequency, each at three levels, allowing for statistical analysis of the relationships between process parameters and coating properties. Statistical computations and model fitting were performed using Statistica 13 software (TIBCO Software Inc., San Ramon, CA, USA).
