Corrosion Resistance of Zn-Al-Mg Alloys with Hypoeutectic Microstructure

Abstract

Zn-Al-Mg alloys with hypoeutectic microstructure were melted through a high frequency induction furnace. The content of aluminum and magnesium in the alloys were between 1% to 2%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to analyze microstructure and phase, respectively. Effect of alloying element contents on corrosion resistance was studied. Results show that the Zn-Al-Mg alloys are almost covered by primarily solidified Zn rich block phase and fine lamellar binary and ternary eutectic microstructure exist between the Zn rich phase. The corrosion resistance was characterized through electrochemical test which indicates that increasing Al and Mg content in the Zn-Al-Mg alloys decline corrosion current density. For alloys with 1% Al, more magnesium means lower corrosion potential. For alloys with 2% Al, however, more magnesium suggests higher corrosion potential. In Nyquist curves of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test, Warburg impedance portion could be found for all alloys. With increasing alloying elements content in the Zn-Al-Mg alloys, charge transfer resistance in higher frequency remarkably increase, which implies higher corrosion resistance.