Abstract:Magnesium based alloys with aluminum and zinc were obtained through electrochemical co-deposition from LiCl-NaCl-MgCl₂ melt. The possibility of electrochemical co-deposition was discussed in detail by electro-analytical methods including cyclic voltametry, square wave voltametry, and chronopotentiometry. The co-deposition happens when the concentration of aluminum and zinc ions is kept at low value and the current density is high enough. The components of alloy elements can be controlled by fixing the components of the feeding salts. A laboratory experiment of the preparation by step-current co-deposition was also performed and certain compositions of the Mg-Al, and Mg-Zn were obtained. The alloys obtained from the co-deposition show a typical as-cast microstructure. The best conditions of electrolysis such as temperature, amount of addition and mode of feeding were discussed in detail.

Key words: magnesium based alloys; electrochemical co-deposition; molten salts