Corrosion resistant magnesium compositions and applications thereof

• US 6,264,762 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Lang, Jürgen, Bommer, Heike, Nitschke, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Sikyin
• Application Number:
  US08/934,597
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 420/411, 420/412, 420/413, 148/420, 148/666, 148/667
• US Class Current: 148/420
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/0408 Light metal alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 23/00 Alloys based on magnesium

Abstract

A magnesium alloy material includes magnesium; more than 1 wt. % manganese; and at least one sp-metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, mercury, gallium, indium, thallium, germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth, wherein the manganese and the at least one sp-metal together are a maximum of 5 wt. % of the alloy material. The magnesium materials are resistant to corrosion and are especially useful in articles exposed to aqueous electrolytes during use or production.

Claims

1. A magnesium alloy material, consisting of:

magnesium;

more than 2 wt. % manganese; and

a corrosion-resisting amount of at least one sp-metal selected from the group consisting of cadmium, mercury, indium, thallium, germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth,

wherein the manganese and the at least one sp-metal together are a maximum of 5 wt. % of the alloy material.

2. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 1, comprising from 0.1 to 2 wt. % of the at least one sp-metal.

3. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 1, comprising from 0.1 to 1 wt. % of the at least one sp-metal.

4. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 1, wherein at least one of manganese and the sp-metal has an exchange current density for hydrogen reduction of no more than 10⁻

7 A/m².

5. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 2, wherein at least one of manganese and the sp-metal has an exchange current density for hydrogen reduction of no more than 10⁻

7 A/m².

6. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 3, wherein at least one of manganese and the sp-metal has an exchange current density for hydrogen reduction of no more than 10⁻

7 A/m².

7. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 1, wherein there are no or substantially no intermetallic bonds.

8. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 2, wherein there are no or substantially no intermetallic bonds.

9. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 3, wherein there are no or substantially no intermetallic bonds.

10. An article of manufacture, which comprises a component comprising a magnesium alloy material according to claim 1.

11. An article of manufacture, which comprises a component comprising a magnesium alloy material according to claim 2.

12. An article of manufacture, which comprises a component comprising a magnesium alloy material according to claim 3.

13. A method of making a metallic part resistant to corrosion upon exposure to aqueous electrolytes comprising producing said part from a magnesium alloy material according to claim 1.

14. A method of making a metallic part resistant to corrosion upon exposure to aqueous electrolytes comprising producing said part from a magnesium alloy material according to claim 2.

15. A method of making a metallic part resistant to corrosion upon exposure to aqueous electrolytes comprising producing said part from a magnesium alloy material according to claim 3.

16. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sp-metal is tin.

17. A magnesium alloy material according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sp-metal is indium.

18. A magnesium alloy material, consisting of:

magnesium;

more than 1 wt. % manganese; and

at least one of tin, arsenic, or antimony,

wherein the manganese and the at least one of tin, arsenic, or antimony are a maximum of 5 wt. % of the alloy material.