Effect of Y addition on the corrosion behavior of melt-spun amorphous Mg-Cu ribbons

Hydrogen evolution testing and anodic potentiodynamic polarization revealed that Y addition has a beneficial effect on the corrosion resistance of mel t-spun amorphous Mg-Cu ribbon, which is related to the properties of the su rface film of Mg-Cu and the manner in which its properties are modified as a result of Y alloying. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profil ing revealed that the breakdown of Mg-Cu was caused by the hydration of sur face oxide components and the incorporation of detrimental CO32- anions int o the surface film. Y addition in Mg-Cu improves the corrosion resistance b y Y2O3 incorporation into the passive film, thus stabilizing the surface ox ide components from hydration and preventing the incorporation of CO32- int o the passive film.