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Localized Corrosion Behavior of Al-Si-Mg Alloys Used for Fabrication of Aluminum Matrix Composites

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Abstract

The relationship between microstructure and localized corrosion behavior in neutral aerated chloride solutions was investigated with SEM/EDAX, conventional electrochemical techniques, and with scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM) for two custom-made alloys with Si/Mg molar ratios of 0.12 and 0.49. In this order, Al3Fe, Al3Mg2, and Mg2Si intermetallics were identified in the first alloy and Al(FeMn)Si and Mg2Si particles in the second one. Anodic polarization curves and corrosion morphology showed that the alloy with higher Si/Mg molar ratio exhibited a better corrosion performance and evidence was shown that it had a more corrosion-resistant passive film. The corrosion process for both alloys in aerated 0.1 M NaCl solutions was localized around the Fe-rich intermetallics. They acted as local cathodes and produced dissolution of the aluminum matrix surrounding such particles. Mg2Si and Al3Mg2 exhibited anodic behavior. SKPFM was successfully used to map the Volta potential distribution of main intermetallics. The localized corrosion behavior was correlated with a large Volta potential difference between the Fe-rich intermetallics and the matrix. After immersion in the chloride solution, such Volta potential difference decreased.

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Acknowledgments

The SKPFM measurements were carried out in the laboratory of Prof. David S. Ginger, the Department of Chemistry, the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, to whom the authors are grateful for providing laboratory facilities and helpful discussions. The authors would like to thank Dr. Obadiah G. Reid (University of Washington) for assistance with setting up the SKPFM instrument, Marbella Echeverría (Cinvestav-Mérida) for technical assistance with the corrosion tests, and D.H. Aguilar (Cinvestav-Mérida) for technical assistance with XRD analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN-Unidad Mérida, Km. 6 ant. carr. a Progreso, A.P. 73 Cordemex, CP 97310, Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico

    M. A. Pech-Canul

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Box 351700, Seattle, WA, 98195-1700, USA

    R. Giridharagopal

  3. Cinvestav-Saltillo, Carr. Saltillo-Mty, Km. 13, CP 25900, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

    M. I. Pech-Canul

  4. Grupo de Instrumentación y Metrología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Km. 7 Ant. vía a Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla, Colombia

    E. E. Coral-Escobar

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  1. M. A. Pech-Canul
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  3. M. I. Pech-Canul
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Correspondence to M. A. Pech-Canul.

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Pech-Canul, M.A., Giridharagopal, R., Pech-Canul, M.I. et al. Localized Corrosion Behavior of Al-Si-Mg Alloys Used for Fabrication of Aluminum Matrix Composites. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 22, 3922–3932 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-013-0674-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-013-0674-0

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