Some investigations on the pitting attack of magnesium and its alloys

The pitting attack of magnesium and its alloys has been studied by means of potentio-kinetic polarisation curves; the following parameters have been considered: structural state and composition of the metal, chloride concentration and pH of the medium. The electrochemical data obtained demonstrate that when pH = 12, a localized corrosion might appear as soon as a 10-3 M NaCl concentration is reached; on the other hand, when pH = 13, a much higher concentration (five times) has no effect. In the same conditions, the coupling of magnesium with various noble materials (graphite, platinum, 18/10 stainless steel) also dramatically increases its susceptibility to pitting, but only when chloride ions are present in the solution. Usual corrosion tests have confirmed these electrochemical results. A micrographic study of the pits has shown that their morphology is connected with the metallurgical state of the specimens. (author)