Hydrogen Evolution during the Corrosion of Galvanically Coupled Magnesium

In this study, the impact of galvanic coupling of magnesium to steel on the corrosion rate, surface morphology, and surface film formation was investigated. In particular, experiments were performed to examine and quantify the role of self-corrosion (also called negative difference effect (NDE) or anodic hydrogen) during the corrosion of galvanically coupled Mg. It was found that galvanic coupling at high cathode-to-anode area ratios resulted in high rates of corrosion that impacted hydrogen evolution on the Mg surface. Self-corrosion accounted for, on average, approximately one-third of the total observed corrosion. The self-corrosion fraction varied with time and was found to reach values in excess of 50%. Surface film formation was observed, and approximately 30% of the Mg lost to corrosion was found in the film at the end of our experiments. The surface morphology observed during galvanic corrosion was dramatically different from the filiform structures associated with free corrosion of our samples, but showed similarities to the morphology observed previously for anodically polarized samples. Film formation appeared to slow the rate of self-corrosion with time. These results complement previous studies of Mg corrosion and add important insight into the role of hydrogen evolution on the Mg surface during galvanic corrosion.