Formation of the Surface Oxide Film on as-Cast Mg-7Li Alloy

The excellent properties of Mg-Li alloys make them suitable light fabrication materials used extensively in many applications. The microstructure and the surface oxide film at different temperature of as-cast Mg-7Li alloy were investigated by optical microscope(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD) and electronic analytical balance. Results showed that Mg-7Li alloy was composed of mainly α phase and β phase. With increasing temperature, the morphology of the alloy surface varied from the formation of a very thin oxide film, large amounts of oxide particles to the thick and coarse film with a mass of cellular protuberances in size of 40-80μm. The ratio of oxidation weight gains rose from 0.08% to 11.58%. The surface oxide film consisted of mainly magnesium oxide(MgO) phase and lithium peroxide(Li2O2) phase, resulting from the reaction of oxygen with Mg and Li. The volume of the oxides on β phase greater than that on α phase led to the formation of cellular protuberance on the surface of Mg-7Li alloy at high temperature.