Different role of second phase in the micro-galvanic corrosion of WE43 Mg alloy in NaCl and Na_(2)SO_(4) solution

Effect of the second phase in the micro-galvanic corrosion of a commercial Mg alloy containing rare earth elements, cast WE43 alloy,was investigated in 0.6 M NaCl solution and 0.6 M Na_(2)SO_(4)solution by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) observations, scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy(SKPFM) analysis, hydrogen evolution, weight loss measurement, and electrochemical techniques. It is confirmed that the second phase of cast WE43 alloy is more active than Mg matrix and exhibits an anodic role in the micro-galvanic corrosion with α-Mg matrix as cathode and dissolves preferentially in Na_(2)SO_(4)solution, in contrast to the situation in NaCl solution. The corrosion rate of cast WE43 alloy in Na_(2)SO_(4)solution is much higher than that in NaCl solution, which is different from the conventional wisdom and could be attributed to the different role of the second phase in the micro-galvanic corrosion in two solutions.

Microstructure and property modifications in surface layers of a Mg-4Sm-2Al-0.5Mn alloy induced by pulsed electron beam treatments

In this work,surface modification of a Mg-4Sm-2Al-0.5Mn alloy with high current pulse electron beam(HCPEB)under different number of pulses were investigated.The evolution in microstructure,composition and phase components and properties in the surface layer before and after HCPEB treatment were characterized.It was found that the Al 11 Sm 3 and Al 2 Sm phases in the surface layer were gradually dissolved during HCPEB treatment,leading to the formation of a chemical homogeneous melted layers.Besides,deformation bands were formed in the treated layer due to the thermal stress generated during treatment.After 15 pulses treatment,the surface hardness increases to the maximum value of about 62.2 HV,about 61.2%higher than that of the untreated state.Electrochemical results show that the 15 pulses treated sample presents the best corrosion resistance in the 3.5wt%NaCl water solution by showing the highest corrosion potential(E_(corr))of-1.339V SEC and the lowest corrosion current density(I_(corr))of 1.48×10^(-6)A·cm^(-2).The results prove that the surface properties of the Mg-4Sm-2Al-0.5Mn alloy can be significantly improved by the HCPEB treatments under proper conditions.

Microstructure and Thermal Conductivity of As-Cast and As-Solutionized Mg–Rare Earth Binary Alloys

The microstructure and thermal conductivity of four groups of Mg–rare earth（RE） binary alloys（Mg–Ce,Mg–Nd, Mg–Y and Mg–Gd） in as-cast and as-solutionized states were systematically studied. Thermal conductivity was measured on a Netzsch LFA457 using laser flash method at room temperature. Results indicated that for as-cast alloys, the volume fraction of second phases increased with the increase of alloying elements. After solutionizing treatment, a part or most of second phases were dissolved in α-Mg matrix, except for Mg–Ce alloys. The thermal conductivity of as-cast and as-solutionized Mg–RE alloys decreased with the increase of concentrations. The thermal conductivity of as-solutionized Mg–Nd,Mg–Y and Mg–Gd alloys was lower than that of as-cast alloys. Thermal conductivity of as-solutionized Mg–Ce alloys was higher than that of as-cast alloys, because of the elimination of lattice defects and fine dispersed particles during solutionizing treatment. Different RE elements have different influences on the thermal conductivity of Mg alloys in the following order： Ce 〈 Nd 〈 Y 〈 Gd. Ce has the minimum effect on thermal conductivity of Mg alloys, because of the very low solubility of Ce in the α-Mg matrix. The variations in the atomic radius of the solute elements with Mg atom（ r）, valence, configuration of extranuclear electron of the solute atoms, and the maximum solid solubility of elements in the α-Mg matrix were suggested to be the main reasons for the differences in thermal conductivity of resulting Mg–RE alloys.

HRTEM studies of aging precipitate phases in the Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.4Zr alloy

Rare-earth（RE） element addition can remarkably improve the mechanical properties of magnesium alloys through precipitation hardening. The morphology, distribution and crystal structure of precipitates are regarded as major strengthening mechanisms in the Mg-RE alloys. In order to understand the formation of precipitates during aging at 225 oC in a Mg-10Gd-3Y-0.4Zr alloy（GW103K） with high strength and heat resistance, a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy（HRTEM） was employed to characterize the microstructural evolution. It was found that three types of precipitates were observed in the alloy at the early stage, named as： single layer D019 structure, one single layer D019 structure and one layer of Mg, two parallel single layers（containing RE） and Mg layer in between, which was regarded as ordered segregation of RE, precursors to form β′′ and β′ phase, respectively. Both of β′′ and β′ phase were transformed from the precursors. It was also found that large size of β′ phase and the small size of β′′ phase were constantly existent in the whole aging process. β′ phase played a major role in the strengthening of the GW103 K alloys and the decrease of the hardness was caused by the coarsening of β′ phase.