XPS study of the surface chemistry on AZ31 and AZ91 magnesium alloys in dilute NaCl solution

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 256; no. 20; pp. 5807 - 5812
• Main Authors: Wang, Lei, Shinohara, Tadashi, Zhang, Bo-Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminum base alloys; Aluminum oxide; AZ31 and AZ91 alloys; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Corrosion; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electrolytes; Exact sciences and technology; Magnesium; Magnesium base alloys; Magnesium oxide; Passivation; Physics; Surface chemistry; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; XPS; XPS; Magnesium; Corrosion; AZ31 and AZ91 alloys; Passivation; Inorganic compounds; Magnesium alloys; Surface chemistry; Dilute alloys; Sodium chloride; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.02.058

The surface chemistry on AZ31 and AZ91 magnesium alloys was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in the corrosion and the passivation zones. In the corrosion zone, the presence of Mg(OH) 2 and MgCO 3 species was found in the outer surface, whereas, in the inner layer, the co-existence of Mg(OH) 2, MgO and MgCO 3 species was observed for both alloys. The presence of Al 3+ in the surface electrolyte to form Al 2O 3/Al(OH) 3 and the formation of carbonate product provide a better passivation on the surfaces and retard the chloride-induced corrosion on the materials in the passivation zone.