Effects of microstructure evolution on discharge properties of AZ31 alloy as anode for seawater battery

In recent years, many researchers have been focusing on improving the discharge properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy for battery applications. In this paper, the equal‐channel angular pressing (ECAP) is used as a preferred way of refining the microstructure to enhance the discharge characteristics of AZ31 alloy as the anode for seawater batteries. The electrochemical discharge behaviors of ECAP‐processed AZ31 alloy are investigated along extrusion surfaces, normal cross‐sections, and transverse cross‐sections and compared with as‐cast and homogenized samples. On the basis of the findings, the anode efficiency is improved effectively through the ECAP method, with approximate isotropy in the discharge behaviors of refined AZ31 alloy. The enhanced discharge performance can be attributed to the refined grains, uniform grain sizes, and dispersed β‐Mg17Al12 after ECAP processing. Enhanced discharge efficiency: The discharge performances (especially anodic efficiency) of magnesium anodes for seawater battery are improved effectively via equal‐channel angular pressing (ECAP). The enhanced discharge behaviors can be attributed to the refined microstructure introduced by ECAP, including the refined grains and dispersed β‐Mg17Al12.