Simultaneously improving the corrosion resistance and strength of magnesium via low levels of Zn and Ge additions

Satisfactory corrosion resistance remains an issue in the widespread implementation of magnesium (Mg). The use of alloying to improve mechanical properties of Mg generally accelerates corrosion due to microstructural heterogeneity. However, recent works have revealed that additions of elements serving as ‘cathodic poisons’ such as arsenic (As) and germanium (Ge) can reduce cathodic reaction rates and suppress cathodic activation - imparting corrosion resistance. The effect of Ge was translated into a ternary (and mechanically relevant) Mg-alloy system for the first time, revealing an alloy system with a balance of properties, and low rate of corrosion relative to Mg-alloys to date

Dislocation behavior and grain boundary segregation of Mg-Zn alloys

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Seed layer, solution concentration and thickness effects on CSD-derived La2Zr207 buffer layers for coated conductors

La2Zr2O7/NiW buffer layers as very promising buffer layers for coated conductors were fabricated by chemical solution deposition using cheap precursors, La-acetate and Zr-(IV) n-propoxide (70% w/w in n-propanol). The effects on the orientation and microstructure of La2Zr2O7 buffer layers, including seed layer, thickness and solution concentration, were investigated. The results showed that insertion of a seed layer could obviously improve the crystallization and orientation, and decrease of single layer thickness could also obviously improve the in-plane orientation. The results of all metalorganic depositions derived YBCO/CeO2/La2Zr2O7/NiW showed that the prepared La2Zr2O7 buffer layers were suitable for coated conductors using all metalorganic depositions