Stress Corrosion Behavior of AM50Gd Magnesium Alloy in Different Environments

A new type of high strength corrosion-resistant magnesium alloy was prepared by adding 1% rare earth Gd to AM50 and then treated with hot extrusion method. The stress corrosion properties of the new materials in air, pure water, 0.5 mol/L NaCl, and 0.5 mol/L Na2SO4 solution were studied by the slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test, in situ open circuit potential test, Tafel curve test, stereomicroscope, SEM, and EDS. The results showed the following. The stress corrosion sensitivity of the material in different environments was Na2SO4> NaCl > distilled water > air. According to the Tafel curves measured at 0 and 100 MPa, the corrosion voltage decreased little and the corrosion current density increased rapidly under 100 Pa. This was because the film of the corrosion product ruptured to form a large cathode and a small anode, which resulted in a large instantaneous corrosion current. The mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement and anodic dissolution together affected the stress corrosion behavior of the alloy. In distilled water, hydrogen embrittlement played a major role, while in NaCl and Na2SO4solution, hydrogen embrittlement and anodic dissolution were both affected. The direct reason of the stress corrosion crack (SCC) samples’ failure was the cracks expanding rapidly at the bottom of pit, which was caused by corrosion.