Relationship between heat treatment and corrosion behaviour of Mg-3.0%Nd-0.4%Zr magnesium alloy

The corrosion behaviour of Mg-3.0Nd-0.4Zr (NK30) magnesium alloy was investigated in as-cast (F), solution treated (T4) and peak-aged (T6) conditions in 5% NaCl solution by immersion tests and electrochemical measurements. The results of immersion test show that NK30 alloy exhibits better corrosion resistance in F condition than it does in the other two conditions due to the more compact corrosion film formed on alloy in F condition. The potentiodynamic polarization curves show that the overpotential of cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction on NK30-F is much higher than that on NK30-T4 and NK30-T6. The corrosion potentials of NK30 increase in the following order: F