Investigation of Stress Corrosion Cracking Behaviour of Mg-Al-Zn Alloys in Different pH Environments by SSRT Method

Abstract

In this study, stress corrosion behaviors of AZ31, AZ61 and AZ91 Mg alloys which contain different amounts of Al were investigated under acidic, basic and neutral environments having chloride ions using Slow Strain Rate Test (SSRT) method. Stress corrosion indexes (ISCC), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation of AZ31, AZ61, and AZ91 Mg alloys were determined and compared. Slow strain rate test showed that three Mg alloys in basic environments were the least stress corrosion susceptible, while the most stress corrosion susceptible occurred in acidic environments. Also, it has been shown that the stress corrosion indexes of AZ91 Mg alloys are less than AZ31 and AZ61 Mg alloys in all environments. UTS and elongation of AZ61 Mg alloys were higher than those of AZ31 and AZ91 in all media. The fracture of surface images also examined in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and both intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) and transgranular stress corrosion cracking (TGSCC) were observed in all three alloys.