The corrosion and passivity of sputtered Mg-Ti alloys

This study explored the possibility of forming a “stainless” Mg-Ti alloy. The electrochemical behavior of magnetron-sputtered Mg-Ti alloys was measured in a NaCl solution, and the surface films on the alloys were examined by XPS, SEM and TEM. Increased corrosion resistance was observed with increased Ti content in the sputtered Mg-Ti alloys, but passive-like behavior was not reached until the Ti level (atomic %) was higher than the Mg level. The surface film that formed on sputtered Mg-Ti based alloys in NaCl solution was thick, discontinuous and non-protective, whereas a thin, continuous and protective Mg and Ti oxide film was formed on a sputtered Ti-Mg based alloy.