INVESTIGATION OF SURFACE AND BULK PROCESSES IN MG-BASED ALLOYS DURING HYDROGEN ABSORPTION

Different Mg-based alloys were tailored and prepared to investigate the surface and bulk processes during hydrogen absorption. Volumetric-, resistance-, XRD-, optical-, and mass measurements were carried out. Heat treatment experiments showed that the short-term thermal stability limits (during heating up at 5 K/min) of the amorphous samples were between 125-175 ° C, while long-term stability (during 24h heat treatment) is always lower – between 80 and 150°C. Nanocrystalline alloys were stable up to 300°C. Hydrogen absorption measurements were executed between 25 and 300°C. Pd-containing alloys were found to be the fastest absorbers, and 200°C was the optimal temperature regarding absorption rate. Etching the samples previously in HF solution enhances absorption by inducing surface cracking. This phenomenon was thoroughly examined by optical microscopy. The effect of hydrogen on the crystallization properties of MgNiPd sample was determined via in-situ resistance measurements.