ABSTRACT
Magnesium is one of the most prevalent elements in the earth’s crust. It is also present in large quantities in seawater. Magnesium has some promising properties, such as its combination of high strength and low density, and also its high dimensional stability, high thermal conductivity, good electromagnetic shielding characteristics, high damping, and good machinability (Salman & Okido 2013). These properties make it an attractive proposition and an excellent choice when weight reduction is needed. There are several applications of magnesium alloys, such as in vehicles, electronic parts, and aerospace equipment. Unfortunately, the high chemical and electrochemical activity of magnesium leads to a poor corrosion resistance and consequently prevents the widespread use of magnesium alloys in many applications. The internal galvanic corrosion from second phases or impurities and the weakness of the surface hydroxide film on magnesium are other reasons for the poor corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys. Furthermore, the oxide film produced is less stable than the anodic films formed on Al alloys and steel.
