Influence of Microstructure on Corrosion of As‐cast ZE41

Abstract

Corrosion of ZE41 initiated in the α-Mg matrix adjacent to the eutectic micro-constituent and was attributed to micro-galvanic corrosion of the α-Mg matrix coupled to the eutectic micro-constituent. The eutectic micro-constituent did not act as a corrosion barrier and did not stop the advance of the corrosion. As a consequence, the α-Mg matrix corroded over the whole surface with little corrosion of the inter-connected eutectic micro-constituent.