Corrosion and electrochemical behavior of as-cast Mg-5Y-7Gd-1Nd-0.5Zr magnesium alloys in 5% NaCl aqueous solution

The corrosion mechanism of the as-cast Mg-5Y-7Gd-1Nd-0.5Zr magnesium alloy immersed in 5% NaCl aqueous solution was investigated by electrochemical test and SEM. The electrochemical results indicate that the corrosion resistance of Mg-5Y-7Gd-1Nd-0.5Zr alloy in 5% NaCl aqueous solution gradually deteriorates with immersion time increasing from 2 h, 24 h, 60 h, to 108 h, which is consistent with the SEM observation of corrosion morphologies. The Cl− anion leads to the initiation and development of the corrosion pits, and Mg-5Y-7Gd-1Nd-0.5Zr alloy exhibits filiform type of attack under significant anodic control of magnesium solution reaction. The corrosion potential becomes noble with increasing immersion time.