The microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of Ce-containing Mg-3Sn-1Ca alloy

Abstract

The effects of minor Ce on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of Mg-3Sn-1Ca alloy are investigated systematically. The minor Ce can refine the eutectic structure between α-Mg and CaMgSn and make the microstructure more uniform. The maximum ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the alloy with the Ce content of 0.3 wt-% were 152.5 MPa and 4.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the corrosion resistance of the Ce-containing alloys is improved by Tafel curves and electrochemical impedance spectra, especially when the Ce is up to 0.3 wt-%. The minor Ce can promote the formation of the surface film and makes the corrosion product film to become more compact, which effectively prevents further the occurrence of corrosion of the Mg matrix.

KEYWORDS:

• Mg-Sn-Ca alloy
• Ce
• microstructure
• mechanical properties
• corrosion behaviour

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Chun-Ming Wang http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3564-8176

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful to the support of the Ph.D. Start-up Foundation of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (Jxxjbs17048), the Science and Technology Project of the Education Department of Jiangxi Province, China (GJJ170548).