Effects of Laser Surface Remelting on Microstructure and Corrosion Properties of Mg-12Dy-1.1Ni Alloy

Abstract Effects of laser surface remelting (LSR) on microstructure and corrosion properties of as-cast Mg-12Dy-1.1Ni (wt.%) alloy were investigated. The as-cast alloy was mainly composed of α -Mg, lamellar Mg 12 DyNi phase with an 18R-long period stacking order (LPSO) structure and Mg 24 Dy 5 . After LSR treatment, fine and compact 18R-LPSO phase reprecipitated on dendrite boundaries as a continuous network. In addition, the volume fraction of the LPSO phase remarkably increased to 34.9% and the grain size of as-cast alloy was refined to ca. 4 μm. Electrochemical and immersion tests indicated that the LSR-treated alloy exhibited a lower weight loss rate (2.8 ± 0.2 mg/cm 2 /h) and corrosion current density (160.1 ± 20.7 μA/cm 2 , and of 37% reduction after LSR) than the as-cast alloy in 0.1 M NaCl solution. The improved corrosion resistance of the LSR alloy was mainly ascribed to the grain refinement and continuous distribution of 18R-LPSO phase on dendrite boundaries.