The Properties of Al/Zn-enriched Surface Layers on Mg

The Al/Zn-enriched surface layers were fabricated on Mg substrate by heating the specimens in contact with an Al + 40 wt.% Zn powder mixture at 445oC for 60 min. The microstructure and corrosion and wear resistance of the layers were investigated and discussed. The experimental results show that the layers were composed of Mg17(Al,Zn)12 and Mg5Al2Zn2 intermetallic phases and a solid solution of Al and Zn in Mg. They were integrated with the substrate trough a zone of a solid solution of Al and Zn in Mg. The potentiodynamic polarization measurements indicated that the specimens with Al/Zn-enriched layer had better corrosion resistance than the bare Mg. The microhardness of the layers containing Mg-Al-Zn intermetallic phases was much higher than that of the Mg substrate. The sliding wear tests showed that the wear resistance of the specimens with a surface layer containing intermetallic phases was also superior to that of untreated Mg.