Anisotropic stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of Mg-8Gd-3Y-0.5Zr alloy

Abstract

This study investigates the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of a Mg-8Gd-3Y-0.5Zr alloy in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution using slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) testing. The results reveal that SCC susceptibility increases as the strain rate decreases, with hydrogen embrittlement (HE) becoming more dominant at lower strain rates, leading to brittle fracture. Anodic dissolution (AD) plays a more significant role at higher strain rates, resulting in mixed fracture modes. Additionally, the mechanical properties and SCC resistance are strongly influenced by the sample orientation. TD-oriented samples show higher SCC susceptibility than RD-oriented ones due to the alignment of Gd- and Y-rich precipitates and grain boundaries, which act as initiation sites for SCC. These precipitates form micro-galvanic couples with the Mg matrix, accelerating localized corrosion and HE. The findings provide insights into the SCC mechanisms of VW83 alloy and highlight the importance of optimizing microstructure and processing conditions to improve its corrosion resistance.