Corrosion of magnesium alloy ZE41 - The role of microstructural features Neil, W C [Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)]; Australian Center for Electromaterials Science, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)], E-mail: wayne.neil@eng.monash.edu.au; Forsyth, M [Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)]; Australian Center for Electromaterials Science, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)], E-mail: maria.forsyth@eng.monash.edu.au; Howlett, P C [Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)]; Australian Center for Electromaterials Science, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)]; Hutchinson, C R [Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)]; Hinton, B R.W. [Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3800 (Australia)]; Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Fishermans Bend, Victoria 3207 (Australia)] 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY; CORROSION RESISTANCE; GRAIN BOUNDARIES; INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS; MAGNESIUM ALLOYS; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; PITTING CORROSION; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; X RADIATION; ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS Magnesium alloy ZE41, used extensively in the aerospace industry, possesses excellent mechanical properties albeit poor corrosion resistance. This paper investigates the mechanism of corrosion and the interaction between the grain boundary intermetallic phases, the Zr-rich regions within the grains and the bulk Mg-rich matrix. The results of optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) potential map measurements have shown the importance of the microstructure in the initiation and propagation of corrosion in an aqueous environment, indicating that the Zr-rich regions play a distinct role in the early stages of corrosion in this alloy. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2008.11.005;INIS United Kingdom 2009-02-15 English Journal Article Journal Name: Corrosion Science; Journal Volume: 51; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2008.11.005; PII: S0010-938X(08)00482-4; Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Medium: X; Size: page(s) 387-394 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2008.11.005 [] 2 51 Journal ID: ISSN 0010-938X; CRRSAA; TRN: GB09R0818049142 GBN 2010-01-01 21173791