Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) study of the electrochemical behavior of anodized AZ31B magnesium alloy in simulated body fluid

Abstract

In this work, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was employed to study the corrosion behavior of anodized AZ31B magnesium alloy exposed to simulated body fluid. SECM measurements were carried out in surface generation/tip collection mode. The hydrogen evolution flux caused during corrosion of the magnesium alloy was oxidized at the ultra-microelectrode (UME). Thus, this experimental procedure allowed evaluating the effect of the anodic protection in this alloy from the SECM analysis of Z- approximation curves, cyclic voltammograms and topographic maps. The results evidence differences in the local electrochemical response of magnesium alloy in the anodized and pristine conditions. The main sites of H2 evolution were verified in the magnesium alloy without anodizing at short exposure times.