Characterization of Unreinforced and Steel Wire Reinforced Magnesium Alloy AZ31 under Mechanical-corrosive Loading

In this work, the sensitivity of an unreinforced and steel wire reinforced AZ31 magnesium alloy to stress corrosion cracking is investigated by means of static stress corrosion testing (clamping lever tests) and cyclic stress corrosion testing (crack propagation tests). In static mechanical-corrosive testing, the AZ31 alloy showed a relatively low sensitivity while the composite showed a higher sensitivity with earlier crack initiation due to weakening of the loaded specimen section. In cyclic experiments, hydrogen embrittlement crack growth acceleration could be attested. Reinforcing the matrix material leads to a compensation of the crack growth acceleration due to stress corrosion cracking by crack energy absorption by increased interface damage according to the aggressiveness of the corrosive media.