Local electrochemical behaviour of friction stir welded Mg-Al-Mn alloy joints

Local scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), along with a scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET), were used to spatially map anodic and cathodic regions in a complex assembly including a friction stir lap welded joint between two Mg-Al-Mn alloys, namely AM60 and AM30. The assembly investigated herein was comprised of the two base materials (AM60 and AM30) and a stir zone (SZ). The transitory electrochemical characteristics of the three regions were perceived from different electrochemical tests and have been correlated to their respective microstructures. Potentiometric and voltametric SECM performed on the assembly in 0.01 M NaCl revealed that during the first few minutes of exposure, AM60 and SZ regions act as dominant anodic regions in the assembly while after 2 h of exposure these regions transition to become cathodic relative to the AM30 region. Galvanic interaction between the different weld regions immersed in a significantly more conductive NaCl electrolyte was investigated by SVET. Under such conditions, filiform-like corrosion initiated, and propagated exclusively within the AM30 region, resulting in cathodic activation of the corroded surface. However, after approximately 5 h of exposure, the AM60 region preferentially dissolves following sufficient cathodic activation of the AM30 region.