Recent Progress in Corrosion and Protection of Magnesium Alloys

Abstract Magnesium alloys are advanced light structural and functional materials being increasingly used in the automotive, aerospace, electronic, and energy industries. However, their corrosion performance at the current stage of development is still not good enough for increasingly diverse practical applications. The Cooperative Research Centre for Cast Metals Manufacturing (CAST) in Australia is one of the most active research organizations in the world established to cope with the problems associated with the development and application of advanced light metals. Corrosion and prevention of magnesium and its alloys is an important part of CAST's research program. This paper presents a brief summary of recent research achievements by CAST and relevant research work in this area in the world. This overview covers “anodic hydrogen evolution”, estimation of corrosion rate, corrosion of aluminum‐ and non‐aluminum‐containing magnesium alloys, influences of composition and microstructure on corrosion, corrosion of a die‐cast magnesium alloy, galvanic corrosion, coolant corrosion, and an aluminum‐alloyed coating. The aim of this overview is to deepen the current understanding of corrosion and protection of magnesium and its alloys and to provide a base for future research work in this field.