Magnesium Corrosion in Different Solutions

The corrosion mechanism of Mg alloys in Hank’s solution was elucidated by comparing the corrosion of typical Mg alloys (AZ91, ZE41 and Mg2Zn0.2Mn) and high purity Mg in Hank’s solution at room temperature and in 3% NaCl saturated with Mg(OH)2. Corrosion was characterised by the evolved hydrogen and the surfaces after the immersion tests. Corrosion in Hank’s solution was weakly influenced by microstructure in contrast to corrosion in the 3% NaCl solution, where second phases cause strong micro-galvanic acceleration. This is attributed to the formation of a more protective surface film in Hank’s solution, causing extra resistance between the alpha-Mg matrix and the second phase. The incubation period in Hank’s solution was alloy dependent.

Effects of Solution Chemistry and Atmosphere on Leaching of Alkali Borosilicate Glass

ABSTRACTThe leaching behavior of two alkali-borosilicate glasses containing 9 wt% simulated fission products and 1.6 wt% uranium oxide has been studied. Samples were exposed to one of eight types of leachants including doubly distilled water, simulated ground silicate water, a brine solution, and solutions containing various concentrations of iron, aluminium or sodium maintained at either 25°C, 40°C or 90°C for up to 182 days. The most aggressive leachants were the solutions containing sodium (excluding brine) and simulated ground silicate water. These solutions increased the extent of leaching by a factor of 2–3 over that for distilled water for one of the glasses. A partially protective surface film rich in magnesium potassium and chlorine was formed on the glasses exposed to the brine solution.In order to evaluate the effects of atmosphere on leaching, samples were also immersed in doubly distilled water over which the relative concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide were varied. Increasing the carbon dioxide concentration from 0 to 50% resulted in a factor of 3 increase in the leaching rate.