| Abstract: | The corrosion behaviour of oxygen implanted magnesium in weekly acid solution Under atmospheric conditions magnesium forms oxide layers which consist mainly of magnesium hydroxide. The protective action of Mg(OH)2 is minor in sulphate‐, carbonate‐ or chloride containing solutions 2, 18]. Additionally, the crystallographic misfit between magnesium and magnesium hydroxide leads to crack formations inside the hydroxide layer and the metallic surface is then exposed. By using the ion implantation of oxygen (1*1018 O+/cm2) a MgO‐layer can be formed and buried within the bulk metal. Pre‐tests of MgO‐layers produced by ion implantation suggest that it is successful as corrosion protection 17]. Crystallographic stresses between metal‐ and oxide phase will be reduced, depending on the gradient of oxygen concentration. The investigation in weekly acid sodium solution shows, that the oxygen ion implantation leads to a significant improvement in the corrosion behaviour of magnesium. |
