Effect of Microstructure and Texture on Corrosion Resistance of Magnesium Alloy

Magnesium alloys are considered as candidate materials for biodegradable implants. However, the key issue is that they corrode too fast in physiological environment. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of microstructure and texture of magnesium alloys on their corrosion resistance. Magnesium alloy AZ31 extruded rod, hot rolled sheet and extruded sheet with different initial microstructure and texture were prepared. Then they were immersed in conventional simulated body fluid (SBF) for several days for corrosion evaluation. The corrosion products and precipitates oil their surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SFM). The preliminary results showed that the initial microstructure and texture of AZ31 alloys has considerable effect on the weight loss rate of the alloys, suggesting that it is possible to enhance the corrosion resistance of AZ31 alloys through tailoring the microstructure and texture of the alloys.