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The corrosion performance of magnesium alloy AM-SC1 in automotive engine block applications

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Abstract

The magnesium alloy AM-SC1 has been developed as a creep-resistant automotive engine block material. This paper outlines its corrosion performance under laboratory test conditions, considering corrosion on both the external and internal surfaces. This study found that AM-SC1 has a corrosion performance comparable to AZ91 when subjected to an aggressive salt-spray environment or in galvanic-coupling environments. This article further demonstrates that, with the appropriate selection of a commercially available engine coolant, the internal corrosion of AM-SC1 can be maintained at a tolerable level. In addition, internal corrosion resistance can be significantly improved by the addition of fluorides to the coolant solution. It is concluded that AM-SC1 can be successfully used in an engine environment provided that some simple corrosion-prevention strategies are adopted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cast Metals Manufacturing, Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Guangling Song & David StJohn

  2. the CRC for Cast Metals Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, Melbourne, Australia

    Colleen Bettles

  3. Advanced Magnesium Technologies Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia

    Gordon Dunlop

Authors
  1. Guangling Song
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  2. David StJohn
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  3. Colleen Bettles
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  4. Gordon Dunlop
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Additional information

For more information, contact Guangling Song, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; +61 7 3365 4197; fax +61 7 3365 3888; e-mail g.song@minmet.uq.edu.au.

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Song, G., StJohn, D., Bettles, C. et al. The corrosion performance of magnesium alloy AM-SC1 in automotive engine block applications. JOM 57, 54–56 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-005-0097-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-005-0097-y

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