Coating an alloy substrate

Abstract

Examples relating to coating an alloy substrate are described. For example, techniques for treating a surface of the alloy substrate for coating the alloy substrate with an exterior coat include providing an alloy substrate of a die-casted metal alloy, the alloy substrate having a surface with multiple pores, and applying an electrically conductive layer on the surface of the alloy substrate. The electrically conductive surface is composed of metal particles and electrically conductive polymers, and the electrically conductive layer is applied such that the metal particles fill the multiple pores on the surface of the alloy substrate. Thereafter, an oxidation process is performed on the surface to form an oxidation layer over the surface. The oxidation layer provides for adhesion of the surface with the exterior coat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an alloy substrate, wherein the alloy substrate is a die-casted metal alloy having a surface which is porous;   depositing an electrically conductive layer on the surface of the alloy substrate, wherein the electrically conductive layer is composed of metal particles and electrically conductive polymers;   subjecting the surface of the alloy substrate to a machining process to smoothen the surface by allowing the metal particles to fill pores on the surface;   performing an oxidation process onto the surface to oxidize the surface and form an oxidation layer over the surface; and   depositing an exterior coat on the alloy substrate, the exterior coat comprising at least one coating layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the metal alloy includes at least one of a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy and a titanium alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation process is a Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO). 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the MAO is performed at a voltage of about 150-550 Volts (V). 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein thickness of the oxidation layer is about 3-15 micro meter (μm). 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive polymers comprises at least one of polylactene, polyphenylenevinylene, polythienylenevinylene, polythiophene, poly-3-alkylthiopene, polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyphenylene, polyphenylene sulfide and polyfuran, and poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT). 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coating layer includes a metallic coat, the metallic coat comprising a layer of at least one of metal powder, pearl, dyes and color pigments. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the metallic coat comprises one of a metallic Ultraviolet (UV) coat and a metallic Polyurethane (PU) coat. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 applying, on a surface of a alloy substrate, an electrically conductive layer, the electrically conductive layer composed of metal particles and electrically conductive polymers, wherein the metal particles fill multiple pores on the surface of the alloy substrate; and   subjecting the alloy substrate to an oxidation process to form an oxidation layer over the surface, wherein the oxidation layer provides for adhesion of the surface with an exterior coat.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the oxidation process is a Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO). 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising applying the exterior coat on the alloy substrate, wherein the exterior coat comprises at least one coating layer, the coating layer comprising at least one of a paint layer and a metallic coat. 
     
     
         12 . A die-casted metal alloy comprising:
 an alloy substrate, wherein surface of the alloy substrate is porous;   an electrically conductive layer on the alloy substrate, the electrically conductive layer comprising metal particles and electrically conductive polymers, wherein the metal particles are filled in pores of the surface of the alloy substrate to smoothen the surface;   an oxidation layer on the electrically conductive layer, the oxidation layer being formed based on an oxidation process; and   an exterior coat on the oxidation layer, the exterior coat composed of at least one coating layer.   
     
     
         13 . The die-casted metal alloy as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one coating layer includes a metallic coat, the metallic coat comprising one of a metallic Ultraviolet (UV) coat and a metallic Polyurethane (PU) coat. 
     
     
         14 . The die-casted metal alloy as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein thickness of the metallic coat is about 10-25 micrometer (μm). 
     
     
         15 . The die-casted metal alloy as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one coating layer includes a base coat, the base coat comprising at least one of barium sulfate, talc, dyes, metal powders and color pigments.