Effect of irradiation with a high-power ion beam of nanosecond duration on the composition of magnesium surface layers during long-term atmospheric corrosion

The reduction of atmospheric corrosion of magnesium previously irradiated by high-power ion beam of nanosecond duration with a current density of 150 A/cm(2) was found. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to investigate the composition of the surface layers of magnesium (initial and irradiated) in 2015 and after 8 years of storage under atmospheric conditions (2023). The oxygen content in the surface layer of the initial sample increases by 91 times during storage, and in the irradiated sample by 17 times. XPS showed that the surface of the initial sample after long-term atmospheric corrosion contains mainly hydrated magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide, and only a small amount of magnesium is present as oxide. The surface of the irradiated sample was dominated by magnesium hydroxide with a much lower carbonate content (compared to the original sample). At a depth of similar to 10 nm, there is a layer with a predominant content of oxide and metallic magnesium. The possible reasons for the difference in atmospheric corrosion of the initial magnesium and magnesium irradiated by a highpower ion beam are considered.