Corrosion of the WE43 and MSR-B magnesium alloys in CO₂

The kinetics of WE43 and MSR-B magnesium alloys oxidation was tested in CO₂ atmosphere. The measurement of the oxidation speed was conducted with continuous thermo gravimetric method in the eutectic melting temperature (530 °C). This temperature has been defined with the differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) method. The corrosion products were analyzed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Disspersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) methods. On the WE43 alloy the double layer scale is being created, with good protective properties. Under the scale layer the internal oxidation of the alloy takes place. The oxide layer on MSR-B alloy is thin and irregular.