WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.245 --> 00:00:03.828 (techno music) 2 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:12.253 line:15% I think we can all agree that we spend 3 00:00:12.253 --> 00:00:14.387 line:15% far too much money on gasoline. 4 00:00:14.387 --> 00:00:16.520 line:15% But the good news is, that in less than 10 years, 5 00:00:16.520 --> 00:00:18.696 the fuel efficiency of every vehicle 6 00:00:18.696 --> 00:00:22.408 will be required to be 54.5 miles per gallon or higher 7 00:00:22.408 --> 00:00:26.419 according to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Regulations. 8 00:00:26.419 --> 00:00:28.552 As you might expect, there are many research 9 00:00:28.552 --> 00:00:30.259 projects working towards this end. 10 00:00:30.259 --> 00:00:32.179 But current methods are not only expensive, 11 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:35.123 but also require the development of synthetic products. 12 00:00:35.123 --> 00:00:38.877 A solution to this is the utilization of magnesium. 13 00:00:38.877 --> 00:00:41.864 Magnesium is the lowest density structural metal 14 00:00:41.864 --> 00:00:44.083 and has a good strength to weight ratio. 15 00:00:44.083 --> 00:00:46.216 Even great than that of certain steels. 16 00:00:46.216 --> 00:00:48.861 Additionally, it is the fourth most common 17 00:00:48.861 --> 00:00:51.421 element in the earth, providing a high supply of materials 18 00:00:51.421 --> 00:00:53.384 at a very affordable cost. 19 00:00:53.384 --> 00:00:55.560 As such, magnesium is of great interest 20 00:00:55.560 --> 00:00:57.565 to the automotive industry. 21 00:00:57.565 --> 00:00:59.101 But there's a problem, 22 00:00:59.101 --> 00:01:02.173 magnesium does not have adequate corrosion resistance, 23 00:01:02.173 --> 00:01:06.269 making its use impractical in many potential applications. 24 00:01:06.269 --> 00:01:08.659 But since it is such a promising lightweight material, 25 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:11.133 much research is being done on different 26 00:01:11.133 --> 00:01:13.011 ways to improve its corrosion resistance 27 00:01:13.011 --> 00:01:14.632 so that it can be used more effectively 28 00:01:14.632 --> 00:01:16.595 in the automotive industry. 29 00:01:16.595 --> 00:01:19.923 In my research, I study a magnesium sphere and cube 30 00:01:19.923 --> 00:01:22.653 of the same surface area in a salt water solution 31 00:01:22.653 --> 00:01:24.701 to see if a change in the geometry 32 00:01:24.701 --> 00:01:27.347 could have an effect on the corrosion rate. 33 00:01:27.347 --> 00:01:30.333 Three different corrosion mechanisms were considered: 34 00:01:30.333 --> 00:01:32.467 the general corrosion or the general 35 00:01:32.467 --> 00:01:34.237 eating away of the surface, 36 00:01:34.237 --> 00:01:37.501 the pitting corrosion, or the formation and growth of pits, 37 00:01:37.501 --> 00:01:39.720 and the inner granular corrosion. 38 00:01:39.720 --> 00:01:42.621 Which is the corrosion that develops between grains. 39 00:01:42.621 --> 00:01:45.096 We also utilized two measurements to determine 40 00:01:45.096 --> 00:01:48.253 if a change in the geometry would affect the corrosion rate. 41 00:01:48.253 --> 00:01:49.704 The change in the mass 42 00:01:49.704 --> 00:01:52.861 and the change in the volume of hydrogen gas produced. 43 00:01:52.861 --> 00:01:54.227 To understand these results, 44 00:01:54.227 --> 00:01:56.099 let me first orient you to my graphs. 45 00:01:56.099 --> 00:01:57.811 On the X axis of both graphs, 46 00:01:57.811 --> 00:01:59.688 you will see the duration of time in hours. 47 00:01:59.688 --> 00:02:03.016 On the Y axis, you will see the amount of corrosion 48 00:02:03.016 --> 00:02:05.405 in terms of the change in mass 49 00:02:05.405 --> 00:02:07.283 and in terms of the change in 50 00:02:07.283 --> 00:02:09.672 the volume of hydrogen gas produced. 51 00:02:09.672 --> 00:02:11.635 From these results we determine that the cube 52 00:02:11.635 --> 00:02:13.768 corroded faster than the sphere 53 00:02:13.768 --> 00:02:15.560 in that it had a greater mass lost 54 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:18.803 and a greater volume of hydrogen gas produced. 55 00:02:18.803 --> 00:02:21.875 Thus, the geometry did have an effect 56 00:02:21.875 --> 00:02:23.837 on the amount of total corrosion 57 00:02:23.837 --> 00:02:25.715 and on the corrosion rate. 58 00:02:25.715 --> 00:02:29.043 This research lays the foundation for future work 59 00:02:29.043 --> 00:02:32.200 on the effects of geometry on the corrosion of magnesium 60 00:02:32.200 --> 00:02:34.077 as well as other metals. 61 00:02:34.077 --> 00:02:37.576 How promising is it to think that a simple change 62 00:02:37.576 --> 00:02:39.539 in the geometry of a magnesium car part 63 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:41.331 has the potential to significantly 64 00:02:41.331 --> 00:02:43.549 decrease its corrosion rate. 65 00:02:43.549 --> 00:02:45.560 This would certainly be one of the most cost-effective 66 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:48.328 ways to improve magnesium's corrosion resistance 67 00:02:48.328 --> 00:02:51.656 and thereby make for an inexpensive and simple way 68 00:02:51.656 --> 00:02:55.573 to improve the fuel efficiency of automobiles.