Effect of aging treatment on corrosion behavior of Mg-4Nd-2Gd-0.5Zr alloy

Abstract The effects of aging time on corrosion behavior of Mg-4Nd-2Gd-0.5Zr alloy in 3.5% NaCl solution were investigated by microanalysis, weight loss test and electrochemical test. The results show that the corrosion rate of Mg-4Nd-2Gd-0.5Zr alloy decreases first and then increases with the extension of aging time. Aging treatment alters the grain size and the distribution of the second phases. The second phases and grain size are the key factors affecting the corrosion rate of magnesium alloy. Among the tested alloys, the T6-8 h alloy shows the lowest corrosion rate, which is mainly attributed to the continuous distribution of second phases restricting the expansion of corrosion, hence the T6-8 h alloy showed the highest corrosion resistance. The corrosion rate of T6-16 h alloy increases obviously because of the growth of the grain size and the segregation of second phases, which accelerates the corrosion progress.