Electrochemical corrosion and mechanical behaviors of the charged magnesium

The electrochemical corrosion and mechanical behaviors of the charged magnesium were investigated using Mott–Schottky (M–S) test and slow strain rate test (SSRT), respectively. The results showed that the hole carrier and vacancy concentrations in the corrosion film increased after cathodic charging due to the formation of magnesium hydroxide. The increasing vacancy concentration caused the increase of the permeation rate of hydrogen to the interior of matrix. When the inner stress caused by synergistic effect of hydrogen pressure and expansion stress of the formation of magnesium hydride was above the fracture strength, crack initiated and propagated. It indicated that hydrogen embrittlement (HE) mechanism for the stress cracking corrosion (SCC) of magnesium and its alloys. After cathodic charging, the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of matrix deteriorated.