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Magnesium
P. Kurze, AHC-Oberflchentechnik GmbH & Co. OHG, Kerpen
13.1 Introduction
Magnesium is very ignoble (normal potential 2.34 volts). It forms thin passive layers in
air and water.
Corrosion Types
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form a good bonding basis for organic coatings, although they are physiologically questionable. Systematic electrochemical tests with regard to replacing chromate led to dilute
aqueous solutions containing cerium permanganate or -vanadate, but not the phosphate and
fluoride ions described in the literature.
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Figure 1:
Figure 1 lists some corrosion tests (comparison of old/new, comparison with GDAlSi9Cu3) carried out on magnesium cast alloys in a salt spray (DIN 50021-SS) [2].
As can be seen from the figure, the corrosion rate of AZ91 (old version), for example, is
19 times faster in the salt-spray test than that of AZ91 HP.
As regards point b)
The two metals in electrical contact with each other have different potentials. The
higher the difference, the more the ignoble metal Mg (anode) will dissolve. It will dissolve
in the electrolyte accumulated at the contact point.
The following precautionary measures logically stem from the model for galvanic
corrosion:
In a dry atmosphere, no galvanic protection is necessary for magnesium (no electrolyte)
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When there is high corrosion potential (electrolyte at the contact point), the following
measures are proposed:
The electrical contact between magnesium and other metallic materials should be
prevented by insulation. There can be no direct contact to copper, nickel, iron, or
stainless steel.
Al/Mg alloys (AlMg2.5, AlMg4.5Mn, AlMgSi1), or those containing zinc, tin, or
cadmium, exhibit only little galvanic corrosion of magnesium. Contact corrosion
when using steel and aluminum screws can easily be prevented by using HARTCOAT covered washers. HART-COAT coated aluminum screws are also serviceable (insulation).
Avoidance of accumulations of electrolyte at the contact areas
222
Removing the skin by acid cleaning or mechanical treatment, and then applying a
surface protection results in much worse corrosion rates than with the untouched
casting skin.
3. The surface protection is less effective on a porous casting than on a dense one.
4. The surface cannot be compacted by abrasive blasting (glass pearls, corundum particles) as with aluminum, as it would be rendered impure by the blasting medium.
Figure 2 shows possible methods for a surface treatment of magnesium materials.
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Figure 2:
Anodic treatment is a widely used process for magnesium. Table 2 lists the most
common methods for the anodic oxidation of magnesium.
The MAGOXID-COAT process was developed by the AHC company [4] and is
described in more detail in [58]. The surface is covered with a ceramic layer by a
plasmatic reaction of the electrolyte; the whole process is run by partial anodes. It is a gas
solid reaction in the electrolyte.
223
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Figure 3:
The layers formed by the MAGOXID-COAT process are of an oxidizing nature; they
are ceramic-like, white layers, which contain a large amount of highly resistant spinels, e.g.
MgAl2O4. Colored MAGOXID-COAT layers are also available, e.g. black. Figure 4
shows a schematic of a MAGOXID-COAT layer. It should be mentioned that the layer
consists of two parts, a pore-free and a porous oxide ceramic layer. The pore-free layer
prevents corrosion, while the porous layer serves as a basis for painting or proofing, e.g.
with PTFE.
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Figure 4:
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The corrosion resistance of the MAGOXID-COAT layer can be further improved for
special applications. Special processes, reaching a corrosion resistance of up to 3000 h,
additionally seal the layer. Table 4 lists potential fields of application for a MAGOXIDCOAT layer.
Literature
Table 4:
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13.4 Literature
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