The investigations of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process of Nb in a 1.5 mol dm(-3) Ca(H2PO2)(2) and 0.5 mol dm(-3) Mg(CH3COO)(2) solution at a constant anodic current density of 150 mA cm(-2) up to several limiting voltages (200, 300, 400 and 500 V) were described. The resulting oxide layers were characterised in terms of their physicochemical properties and corrosion resistance (DC and AC techniques) in Ringer's solution at 37.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C. The growth of the oxide layers during the PEO treatment was monitored using a digital camera and the sparks formed on the surface of niobium were analysed. The effect of the anodisation voltage on the oxide layer thickness (from less than 1 mu m up to 150 mu m), incorporation of the electrolyte solution species (the relative content of Nb in the coatings dropped from 36.5 to 0.7 at%), adhesion strength (the L-c2 increased from 6.31 +/- 0.38 to 14.10 +/- 0.47 N) and corrosion resistance (the R-p changed from 10.4 +/- 2.7 to 60.9 +/- 13.7 M Omega cm(2)) was described. Additionally, the phase and chemical compositions of the oxide layers were studied. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.