Atmospheric corrosion of magnesium alloys AZ31 and AZ61 under continuous condensation conditions

This paper studies the corrosion rate of magnesium alloys AZ31 and AZ61 exposed in humid air under continuous condensation conditions. The shape of the gravimetric curves for corrosion progress suggests that the process is controlled by factors related with the corrosion product layer growing on the metallic surface according to gravimetric results there is an initial period in which only a small part of the corroded metal is incorporated in the corrosion product layer, but after longer testing times the proportion of metal that comes to form part of this layer tends to increase very significantly.

Research highlights► Main features of Mg alloys corrosion under continuous condensation are studied. ►Information is obtained on the evolution over time of the corrosion product layer. ► Information is obtained on the evolution over time of the corrosion product layer. ►Possible effect of diffusion through the corrosion product layer on corrosion rate. ►Corrosiveness of the continuous condensation test compared with other tests for Mg.