Influence of Heat Treatment Temperature on Corrosion Characteristics of Biodegradable EW10X04 Mg Alloy Coated with Nd

The effect of heat treatment temperature (150, 350, and 550 degrees C) on corrosion of biodegradable EW10X04 Mg alloy coated with Nd was tested in PBS solution. The microstructure was examined by SEM, XRD, and XPS analysis and corrosion resistancewas evaluated by immersion test,potentiodynamic polarization and EIS analysis. Comparatively the complex microstructure of the surface obtained after heat treatment at 350 degrees C has the best corrosion resistance. This was mainly due to the formation of a nearly continuous network of Mg41Nd5 that acts as a protective barrier around -Mg grains. The heat treatment at 150 degrees C was not effective in creating a similar protective network. In the heat treatment at 550 degrees C, a new intermetallic phase (Mg3Nd)was formed having a detrimental effect on corrosion resistance.