Three types of phosphate conversion films, Ca–P, Mn–P, and Ca–Mn–P films, were prepared on AZ31B magnesium alloy from phosphate aqueous solutions containing Ca, Mn, or Ca and Mn ions. Chemical and corrosive resistant properties of the films were characterized using XRD, FT-IR, XPS, XRF, GD-OES, SEM, and potentiodynamic polarization curve measurements. No crystalline phase originated from the film was observed in XRD patterns for all samples. XRF studies revealed that elemental P was included in all films. FT-IR and XPS spectra demonstrated that the Ca–P and Mn–P films were composed of MgO, Mg(OH)₂, Mg₃(PO₄)₂, CaCO₃, Ca₃(PO₄)₂, Ca(OH)₂, CaHPO₄, and MgO, Mg(OH)₂, Mg₃(PO₄)₂, MnHPO₄, Mn(OH)₂, respectively, and the Ca–Mn–P films contained MgO, Mg(OH)₂, Mg₃(PO₄)₂, CaCO₃, Ca₃(PO₄)₂, Ca(OH)₂, CaHPO₄, MnHPO₄, Mn(OH)₂. The formation mechanism for all films was also proposed. Potentiodynamic polarization curves indicated that the corrosion current density of the Mn–P film was found to show the lowest value among all films prepared in this study.

Water-activated magnesium batteries possess several favorable attributes for energy storage and lighting sources. In this article, a portable-sized magnesium battery which consisted of MnO₂ positive electrodes (cathodes) and magnesium alloy negative electrodes (anodes), being activated by drops of water, was investigated. The anode and cathode potential as well as their electrochemical impedance under a constant current load was monitored to evaluate the effect of discharging cycles. It was revealed that the discharge behavior was initially controlled by the depletion of water, followed by the cease of cathode reaction and the accumulation of Mg(OH)₂ at magnesium anode. The specific energy of four stacked cells was found to 71 Wh/kg.

Corrosion resistant films were prepared on flame-resistant Mg–6Al–1Zn–2Ca (in mass%) alloy by steam coating using ultra pure water as steam source. The prepared films were characterized using SEM, XRD, and FT-IR. Corrosion resistance of the film was estimated by polarization curve measurement in 5 mass% NaCl aqueous solution. All XRD patterns of the films coated Mg–6Al–1Zn–2Ca alloy revealed that all films were composed of crystalline Mg(OH)₂ and Mg–Al layered double hydroxide (LDH). FT-IR spectra showed that the Mg–Al LDH had carbonate- and nitrate-ions in the interlayer. Potentiodynamic polarization curves of the film prepared at 433 K for 6 h indicated that the corrosion current density decreased by more than four orders of magnitude as compared to that of the uncoated Mg–6Al–1Zn–2Ca alloy.