Electrochemical Behavior of AZ31 Mg Alloy in Neutral Aqueous Solutions Containing Various Anions

This work was performed to characterize the electrochemical behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy in neutral aqueous solutions where Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, and F- ions were present and pH was adjusted to 6 to exclude the contribution of H+ and OH- ions. Open-circuit potential (OCP) transient, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potnetiodynamic polarization curves were employed. The OCP value appeared to decrease in the order of F- > Cl- > SO42- > PO43- ions while corrosion current density increased in the same order. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data showed two capacitive arcs in all the solutions and one more inductive arc appeared in PO43--containing solution. By fitting of two capacitive arcs, capacitance of dense film (C-df), resistance of porous film (R-pf) and double layer capacitance (C-dl) and charge transfer resistance (R-ct) beneath the porous films were obtained. A simplified model in which various thicknesses and coverages of dense and porous films are assumed to be present on the AZ31 Mg alloy surface, is suggested to explain the effects of four different anions on the electrochemical behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy.