Dealloying corrosion of anodic and nanometric Mg41Nd5 in solid solution-treated Mg-3Nd-1Li-0.2Zn alloy

The microstructure and chemical compositions of the solid solution-treated Mg-3 Nd-1 Li-0.2 Zn alloy were characterized using optical microscope,scanning electron microscope(SEM),transmission electron microscope(TEM),electron probe micro-analyzer(EPMA)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The corrosion behaviour of the alloy was investigated via electrochemical polarization,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),hydrogen evolution test and scanning Kelvin probe(SKP).The results showed that the microstructure of the as-extruded Mg-3 Nd-1 Li-0.2 Zn alloy containedα-Mg matrix and nanometric second phase Mg_(41)Nd_(5).The grain size of the alloy increased significantly with the increase in the heat-treatment duration,whereas the volume fraction of the second phase decreased after the solid solution treatment.The surface film was composed of oxides(Nd_(2)O_(3),Mg O,Li_(2)O and Zn O)and carbonates(Mg CO3 and Li_(2)CO3),in addition to Nd.The as-extruded alloy exhibited the best corrosion resistance after an initial soaking of 10 min,whereas the alloy with 4 h-solution-treatment possessed the lowest corrosion rate after a longer immersion(1 h).This can be attributed to the formation of Nd-containing oxide film on the alloys and a dense corrosion product layer.The dealloying corrosion of the second phase was related to the anodic Mg_(41)Nd_(5)with a more negative Volta potential relative toα-Mg phase.The preferential corrosion of Mg_(41)Nd_(5)is proven by in-situ observation and SEM.The solid solution treatment of Mg-3 Nd-1 Li-0.2 Zn alloy led to a shift in corrosion type from pitting corrosion to uniform corrosion under long-term exposure.