Corrosion behavior of rapidly solidified Mg–Zn–rare earth element alloys in NaCl solution

Rapidly solidified flaky powder metallurgy (RS FP/M) processing was applied for preparation of corrosion-resistant bulk Mg alloys with Zn and rare earth elements. The corrosion behavior of the melt spun Mg–Zn–La and Mg–Zn–Yb alloy ribbons in 1% NaCl solution was investigated in order to determine optimum composition of corrosion-resistant Mg alloys. The effect of heat-treatment on the corrosion behavior of RS Mg–Zn–La and Mg–Zn–Yb alloys also was studied. In the Mg–Zn–La alloys, as-quenched alloys showed good corrosion resistance in the NaCl solution, but heat-treatment led to degradation due to microstructure change, that is, reduction in dispersion of the Mg17La2-type intermetallic compound. In the Mg–Zn–Yb alloys, both as-quenched and heat-treated Mg97.5Zn0.5Yb2 alloys exhibited low corrosion rates because fine distribution of Mg2Yb-type intermetallic compound in α-Mg matrix was not largely changed by heat treatment.