Correlation Between Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Magnesium Alloys Prepared by High Strain Rate Rolling

Microstructure and corrosion resistance in Hank's solution of four magnesium alloys (pure Mg, ZK60, Mg-4Zn and Mg-4Zn-0.3Ca) prepared by high strain rate rolling (HSRR) and conventional rolling (CR) are comparatively investigated. The HSRR alloy exhibits better bio-corrosion resistance than the CR alloy. The HSRR ZK60 alloy has finer grains, higher dynamic recrystallization (DRX) extent, lower twin fraction, coarser residual second-phase particles, finer and denser nanometer beta (1) precipitates, lower residual compressive stress and stronger basal texture than the CR alloy. The average corrosion rate of the HSRR ZK60 sheet after 90-day immersion in Hank's solution is 0.17 mg cm(-2) d(-1), about 19% lower than that of the CR sheet. Its corrosion current density is 30.9 mu A/cm(2), about 45% lower than that of the CR sheet. Bio-corrosion resistance enhancement by HSRR can be mainly ascribe to the reduced grain size, the relatively adequate DRX, non-twinning, the coarser residual second-phase particles, the finer and denser nanometer precipitates and the slightly stronger (0001) texture.