Method for manufacturing a part coated with a protective coating

1. A method of fabricating a part coated with a protective coating, the method comprising:

using micro-arc oxidation treatment to form a protective coating on an outside surface of a part, the part comprising a niobium matrix having metallic silicide inclusions present therein, a current passing through the part being controlled during the micro-arc oxidation treatment in order to subject the part to a succession of current cycles, a ratio of (quantity of positive charge applied to the part)/(quantity of negative charge applied to the part) lying in the range 0.80 to 1.6 for each current cycle,

wherein each current cycle includes:

a positive current rise stage during which the current passing through the part is positive and increasing, the duration of the positive current rise stage lying in the range 3% to 15% of the total duration of said cycle, and

a positive stabilization stage during which a constant positive current passes through the part, the positive stabilization stage being performed after the positive current rise stage, the duration of the positive stabilization stage lying in the range 15% to 50% of the total duration of said cycle.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein each current cycle includes a negative stabilization stage during which a constant negative current passes through the part, a duration of the negative stabilization stage lying in the range 30% to 80% of a total duration of said cycle.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the part is present in an electrolyte, and wherein prior to the beginning of the micro-arc oxidation treatment the electrolyte includes a silicate.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the part is present in an electrolyte, and wherein throughout all or part of the micro-arc oxidation treatment, the electrolyte is maintained at a temperature less than or equal to 40° C.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the part is present in an electrolyte, and wherein during the micro-arc oxidation treatment, the current passes through the part and through a counter-electrode present in the electrolyte, the counter-electrode having a same shape as the part.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the duration during which the part is subjected to micro-arc oxidation treatment is greater than or equal to 10 minutes.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the part is subjected to a micro-arc oxidation treatment enabling self-regulation conditions to be achieved, said self-regulation conditions then being maintained for a duration lying in the range 3 minutes to 10 minutes.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, for all or part of the current cycles, the ratio (quantity of positive charge applied to the part)/(quantity of negative charge applied to the part) lies in the range 0.8 to 0.9.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the part is initially subjected to a succession of current cycles for which the ratio (quantity of positive charge applied to the part)/(quantity of negative charge applied to the part) lies in the range 0.9 to 1.6, the part subsequently being subjected to a succession of current cycles for which the ratio (quantity of positive charge applied to the part)/(quantity of negative charge applied to the part) lies in the range 0.8 to 0.9.

10. A method of fabricating a part coated with a protective coating, the method comprising:

using micro-arc oxidation treatment to form a protective coating on an outside surface of a part, the part comprising a niobium matrix having metallic silicide inclusions present therein, a current passing through the part being controlled during the micro-arc oxidation treatment in order to subject the part to a succession of current cycles, a ratio of (quantity of positive charge applied to the part)/(quantity of negative charge applied to the part) lying in the range 0.80 to 1.6 for each current cycle,

wherein each current cycle includes:

a positive stabilization stage during which a constant positive current passes through the part, the duration of the positive stabilization stage lying in the range 15% to 50% of the total duration of said cycle, and

a positive current descent stage during which the current passing through the part is positive and decreasing, the duration of the positive current descent stage lying in the range 1% to 10% of the total duration of said cycle, the positive current descent stage being performed after the positive stabilization stage.

11. A method of fabricating a part coated with a protective coating, the method comprising:

using micro-arc oxidation treatment to form a protective coating on an outside surface of a part, the part comprising a niobium matrix having metallic silicide inclusions present therein, a current passing through the part being controlled during the micro-arc oxidation treatment in order to subject the part to a succession of current cycles, a ratio of (quantity of positive charge applied to the part)/(quantity of negative charge applied to the part) lying in the range 0.80 to 1.6for each current cycle,

wherein each current cycle includes:

a negative current descent stage during which the current passing through the part is negative and decreasing, the duration of the negative current descent stage lying in the range 1% to 10% of the total duration of said cycle, and

a negative stabilization stage during which a constant negative current passes through the part, the negative stabilization stage being performed after the negative current descent stage, the duration of the negative stabilization stage lying in the range 30% to 80% of the total duration of said cycle.

12. A method of fabricating a part coated with a protective coating, the method comprising:

using micro-arc oxidation treatment to form a protective coating on an outside surface of a part, the part comprising a niobium matrix having metallic silicide inclusions present therein, a current passing through the part being controlled during the micro-arc oxidation treatment in order to subject the part to a succession of current cycles, a ratio of (quantity of positive charge applied to the part)/(quantity of negative charge applied to the part) lying in the range 0.80 to 1.6 for each current cycle,

wherein each current cycle includes:

a negative stabilization stage during which a constant negative current passes through the part, the duration of the negative stabilization stage lying in the range 30% to 80% of the total duration of said cycle, and

a negative current rise stage during which the current passing through the part is negative and increasing, the negative current rise stage being performed after the negative stabilization stage, the duration of the negative current rise stage lying in the range 1% to 10% of the total duration of said cycle.