Effect of Si3N4/TaC Particles on the Structure and Properties of Microarc Oxidation Coatings on TC4 Alloy
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Review report is attached.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Mayor questions
Page 8: please explain why were V and Al not detected unlike Fe?
Table 2: what is the reason of the significantly different Si/Ta ratio?
Lines 133-136: what was the surface density of the bright particles? (The number of them per unit of area.)
Mayor issues
Figure 4: on this magnification, the EDS maps contain no information for the reader about the composition of the bright particles. Figure 4 should be replaced by a higher magnification EDS map of one sample.
Minor issues
Section 2: X-ray diffraction source (wavelength) should be noted.
Line 256 and table 4: -1.226 / -1.229 V.
Figure 5: please correct the key and labels of the figure.
Lines 177-178: if the accuracy of thickness measurement is 0.1 um, then thicknesses of 20.2 and 22.0 must be reported.
Figure 3: y2label must be corrected.
Minor questions
About SEM images: what was the signal which processed? Secondary electrons or backscattered electrons?
Tables 2 and 3: are the results at.% or wt.%?
Figure 3: what was the accuracy of porosity measurements?
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
1. Abstract
I recommend that the abstract be redone. Usually, in the abstract, you write briefly about the methods that made it possible to research the properties of the material. For example, "Morphological research was carried out using scanning electron microscopy, corrosion tests - by holding samples in a chamber of salt fog, etc.". Also, I draw the attention of the authors, that according to the test methodology - you have conducted potentiodynamic electrochemical studies of your coatings. Corrosion tests, the authors did not. In this regard, remove from the abstract the phrase about the measurement of corrosion resistance of coatings.
2. Introduction
Please clearly write the purpose of your research at the end of the introduction.
3. Methodology
It is necessary to structure this section by adding subsections:
2.1 Materials (in this subsection, you need to specify information about the substrate and how the samples were prepared. The authors already have this information)
2.2 Micro arc oxidation (in this subsection you describe the micro-arc oxidation technique and the electrolytes used. The composition of the base electrolyte should be referenced. Also, provide a diagram of the MAO process).
2.3 The surface morphologies (give information about the device, what it was used to examine (in this case, combine the information), in which electrons (inverse or secondary), the value of the accelerating voltage).
2.4 Phase composition (give information similar to subsection 2.3)
2.5 Electrochemical research (the basic information for this subsection is there, but it needs to be supplemented. It should be written whether or not the samples were kept in the test electrolyte. If yes, how long. Because, potential sweep implies that the sweep starts from the steady-state potential of the system. In this case, is it also so? This should be written about).
2.6 Friction tests (the basic information on this subsection is there, but it should be written in more detail).
4. Tables and Figures
- Arrangement of tables and figures in the text. I draw the authors' attention to the fact that all tables and figures appear in the Manuscript after their first mention in the text, I recommend correcting this point.
- Figures
Figure 3. Correct the dimensionality of the Thickness axis.
Figure 5. Correct the name of the X-axis, and also, correct the inscriptions in the figure itself, now they have moved somewhere.
Correct the numbering of figures. After figure 11 you should see figure 12.
Figures 3, 5, 6, 11 and 12 - the divisions on the axes of these figures should be placed outward, not inward.
- Tables
Table 1. Replace the name of the Concentration /g/L column with Concentration, g/L.
Table 2. Line thickness of all tables should be the same, please correct.
Tables 3 and 4. Align the width of the tables. Remove unnecessary serifs between columns.
5. Add a new section
Dear authors, this article really needs section 4. Discussions. Please add one. It would greatly embellish your article. It is a good opportunity to compare your new results with similar ones from before.
6. Use the template
I recommend that the authors again familiarize themselves with the template of this journal. Now all the captions to the figures, to the tables, references are not properly designed. Please, take seriously the design of your material and make appropriate changes.
7. Typos in the text
Check the text for typos. For example, line 83 (symbol Φ- should it be?), designations of minuses and dashes in the text, use of long and short dashes between numbers (line 59), etc.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Colleagues, thank you for your work, it is clear that you tried to improve the Manuscript as much as possible, but there are still some small things that need to be corrected:
Figures
I would like to attract your attention to Figures 8 and 9. According to the methodology, you used a standard calomel reference electrode, and the figures show a hydrogen electrode. Please correct this.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
