Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microstructure characterization of early corrosion behavior of AM60B magnesium alloys

  • Published:
Wuhan University Journal of Natural Sciences

Abstract

The microstructures and corrosion behavior of AM60B magnesium alloys, produced by both high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and super vacuum die casting (SVDC) processes, were investigated by a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and slow positron beam technique. XRD confirmed that calcium carbonate (CaCO3) deposited on the surface of alloys during the early stages of corrosion, and the deposition rate of CaCO3 for SVDC with corrosion time was slower than that of HPDC. SEM observation found that the β-phases in the skin surface of SVDC alloy had a greater volume fraction and more continuous distribution than that of HPDC alloy, leading to lower volume fraction of CaCO3 deposited on surface of SVDC alloy for the same corrosion time. The slow positron beam Doppler broadening measurement revealed that the thickness of surface corrosion layer increased with corrosion time. Compared with HPDC alloy, the increase rate of thickness for SVDC alloy is slower, which implied that SVDC alloy exhibited a better corrosion resistance than HPDC alloy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Quan Y J, Chen Z H, Yu Z H, et al. Characteristics of laser welded wrought Mg-Al-Mn alloy [J]. Materials Characterization, 2008, 59(12): 1799–1804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Abady G M, Hilal N H, El-Rabiee M, et al. Effect of Al content on corrosion behavior of Mg-Al alloys in aqueous solution of different pH [J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2010, 55: 6651–6658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wu M W, Xiong S M. Microstructure characteristics of the eutectics of die cast AM60B magnesium alloy [J]. J Mater Sci Technol, 2011, 27(12): 1150–1156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cáceres C H, Griffiths J R, Pakdel A R, et al. Microhardness mapping and the hardness-yield strength relationship in high-pressure die cast magnesium alloy AZ91 [J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2005, 402: 258–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Song G L, Atrens A, Dargusch M. Influence of microstructure on the corrosion of diecast AZ91 [J]. Corrosion Science, 1999, 41: 249–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Luo A, Sachdev A. Microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium-aluminum-manganese cast alloys [J]. International Journal of Metalcasting, 2010, 4(4): 51–59.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Patel H A, Rashidi N, Chen D L, et al. Cyclic deformation behavior of a super-vacuum die cast magnesium alloy [J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2012, 546: 72–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Schutz P J, Lynn K G. Interaction of positron beam with surface, thin films and interfaces [J]. Reviews of Modern Physics, 1988, 60(3): 701–779.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Adhikari S, Chumbley L S, Chen H, et al. Interfacial voids in aluminum created by aqueous dissolution [J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2010, 55: 6093–6100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wu Y C, Zhang R, Chen H, et al. Corrosion of iron and stainless steels study using slow positron beam technique [J]. Radiation Physical and Chemistry, 2003, 68: 99–603.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wu Y C, Zhai T, Coleman P G. A positron annihilation study of corrosion of aluminum and aluminum alloy by NaOH [J]. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2012, 43A: 2823–2832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. van Veen A, Schut H, Clement M. Effect of post oxidation anneal on VUV radiation hardness of the Si/SiO2 system studied by positron annihilation spectroscopy [J]. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 1995, 6(42): 1717–1724.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Liu L J, Schlesinger M. Corrosion of magnesium and its alloys [J]. Corrosion Science, 2009, 51: 1733–1737.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Reddy M M, Nancollas G H. The crystallization of calcium carbonate: IV. The effect of magnesium, strontium and sulfate ions [J]. Journal of Crystal Growth, 1976, 35: 33–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Meldrum F C, Hyde S T. Morphological influence of magnesium and organic additives on the precipitation of calcite [J]. Journal of Crystal Growth, 2001, 231: 544–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Uan J Y, Yu B L, Pan X L. Morphological and microstructural characterization of the aragonitic CaCO3/Mg, Al-hydrotalcite coating on Mg-9wt pct Al-1 wt pct Zn alloy to protect against corrosion [J]. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2008, 39A: 3233–3244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Merino M C, Pardo A, Arrabal R, et al. Influence of chloride ion concentration and temperature on the corrosion of Mg-Al alloys in salt fog [J]. Corrosion Science, 2009, 52: 1696–1704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ugur M, Kadir C T, Suman S. Influence of post-treatment on the corrosion resistance of PEO coated AM50B and AM60B Mg alloys [J]. Surface & Coatings Technology, 2010, 205: 1793–1798.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hautojärvi P, Corbel C. Positron Spectroscopy of Solids [M]. Amsterdam: IOS Press, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hubei Key Laboratory of Nuclear Solid State Physics/School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China

    Yongfeng Liu, Jing Jiang, Xudong Xue & Yichu Wu

  2. Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506-0046, USA

    Tongguang Zhai

Authors
  1. Yongfeng Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jing Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xudong Xue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yichu Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tongguang Zhai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yichu Wu.

Additional information

Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11175136, 51071111, 10975110)

Biography: LIU Yongfeng, male, Master candidate, research direction: corrosion of metal materials.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, Y., Jiang, J., Xue, X. et al. Microstructure characterization of early corrosion behavior of AM60B magnesium alloys. Wuhan Univ. J. Nat. Sci. 17, 369–376 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11859-012-0857-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11859-012-0857-9

Key words

CLC number

Search

Navigation