Corrosion behaviour of magnesium sacrificial anodes in tap water

The effects of applied current, testing time and microstructure on the electrochemical properties of magnesium-based sacrificial anodes in potable water were evaluated. Galvanostatic tests, potentiodynamic polarisation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were used to determine anode efficiency, corrosion rate and microstructures of the Mg-anodes under study. The contribution of processes as mechanical material loss and hydrogen evolution on the current wastage was investigated. The effect of the different microstructures like those obtained by heat treatments to reduce the intermetallic phase was also tested.