Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) coating was deposited on the substrate surface of magnesium alloy with solution treatment. The microstructures and corrosion behaviors of the DCPD-coated samples before and after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different times were investigated. It is important to note that DCPD was not only transformed into hydroxyapatite (HA) but also induced HA precipitation after immersion in SBF. An HA-like coating was generated on the substrate surface in a two step process involving an initial coating with DCPD, resulting in the corrosion resistance increasing along with the corrosion mechanism changing with increase to soaking time. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.