Oxidation Behaviour of WE54 and Elektron 21 Magnesium Alloys

In the present study, the isothermal early oxidation behaviour of the WE54 and Elektron 21 alloys were studied at a temperature of 773 K in pure O2 up to 150 min. The results showed that the oxidation kinetics depending on the chemical composition and microstructure of the investigated alloys. The oxidation kinetics of these alloys in as-cast and T6 conditions obtained a parabolic law, while in supersaturated state these alloys exhibited a linear kinetics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicated that an oxide film, composed of MgO and (Y,Dy)2O3 in WE54 alloy and (Nd,Gd)2O3 in Elektron 21 alloy, had been formed.