Achieving High Corrosion Resistance via Nanoscale Guinier-Preston Zone Precipitation in a Dilute Mg-Zn-Ca-Mn Alloy Sheet
摘要
Dilute Mg-Zn-Ca-based alloy sheets typically exhibit excellent room-temperature ductility and hold great potential for industrial applications. However, their low corrosion resistance remains a critical barrier to widespread adoption. In this study, dilute Mg-0.48Zn-0.45Ca-0.3Mn (wt.%) alloy sheets (designated as Z0.5) in three processing states (as-rolled, solution-treated, and peak-aged) were subjected to corrosion property evaluations. These evaluations included immersion tests and electrochemical measurements (potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Notably, the peak-aged Z0.5 alloy exhibits the best corrosion resistance, with a weight loss-derived corrosion rate of 1.32 mm/y. This superior corrosion resistance is primarily attributed to the beneficial effect of nanoscale Guinier-Preston (G.P.) zones precipitated during peak aging. Additionally, the influences of other metallurgical factors—including texture characteristics, macroscale second phases, and twins—on corrosion behavior were systematically discussed.