Electrochemical Behavior and Localized Corrosion Associated with Mg2Si Particles in Al and Mg Alloys

The electrochemical characteristics of Mg2Si in dilute NaCl over a range of pH values are presented. In this study, Mg2Si was carefully synthesized to permit the collection of its anodic and cathodic potentiodynamic polarization response. Difficulties in producing bulk Mg2Si means that such data remains scarce to date. Mg2Si is an important intermetallic that forms in Al and Mg alloys containing silicon. In this work, the electrochemical response of Mg2Si is interpreted (and contrasted) in the context of Al and Mg alloys that contain Mg2Si, revealing that Mg2Si is either a local anode or local cathode. (c) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.