Environmentally assisted cracking behaviour of plasma electrolytic oxidation coated AZ31 magnesium alloy

A wrought AZ31 magnesium alloy was plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coated in phosphate and silicate based alkaline electrolytes. The effect of these PEO coatings on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviour of the alloy was investigated by slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) tests in ASTM D1384 solution. The untreated and PEO coated AZ31 magnesium alloy specimens were found to be susceptible to SCC, despite the fact that the PEO coatings offered an excellent general corrosion resistance. The results of the polarisation tests on the untreated AZ31 alloy specimen after prolonged immersion in ASTM D1384 electrolyte suggested the formation of a film on the surface constituted by the corrosion products. The cracking of this film and the evolution/ingress of hydrogen at these defective sites during the SSRT tests in the corrosive environment was believed to be responsible for the SCC of the untreated alloy. Similarly, the cracking of the PEO coatings during the SSRT test, the consequent exposure of the underneath magnesium alloy substrate and the associated electrochemical reactions were attributed as reasons for the SCC of the PEO coated specimens. The transgranular mode of fracture in all the cases avowed that the hydrogen induced cracking was the mechanism of SCC.