The Interplay Between Corrosion, Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior in Magnesium Alloys

Marian Miculescu^1*, Iulian Antoniac^1,2

¹ Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Romania;

² Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania;

The corrosion process of magnesium alloys in chloride-containing environments is complex and involves electrochemical reactions leading to the formation of unstable corrosion products such as Mg(OH)₂, which can be further transformed into soluble compounds (e.g., MgCl₂). This results in increased degradation rates, hydrogen evolution, and local pH changes, all of which may influence both the material performance and the biological response. In this context, the evaluation of the mechanical behavior of magnesium alloys during degradation becomes essential. While numerous studies focus on corrosion resistance and electrochemical behavior, fewer investigations correlate the evolution of mechanical properties with immersion time and associated degradation mechanisms. Understanding how tensile strength, ductility, and fracture mechanisms evolve during exposure to simulated physiological environments is critical for predicting in-service performance. Furthermore, fractographic analysis provides valuable insights into the failure mechanisms of degrading magnesium alloys. The transition from ductile to brittle fracture modes, the presence of corrosion-induced defects, and microstructural changes at the fracture surface can be directly correlated with the degradation kinetics and loss of mechanical integrity. The present study aims to investigate the evolution of mechanical properties of several magnesium alloys (MRI201S, MRI202S, ZMX100 and ZMX410) during in vitro degradation through immersion tests performed over different time intervals (1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days). The experimental approach combines mechanical testing with mass loss evaluation and fractographic analysis in order to establish a comprehensive correlation between degradation behavior and mechanical performance.