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Corrosion of Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composites in Neutral Chloride Solutions

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Abstract

The electrochemical behavior of UNS A0332.00S, UNS A0332.20S, UNS A0359.00S, and UNS A0359.20S aluminum alloys were studied in NaCl media through weight loss, potentiodynamic, and cyclic polarization techniques. UNS A0332.20S and UNS A0359.20S were reinforced with SiC, 20% by volume while the other two samples were not reinforced. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to analyze the role of intermetallic phases in both the corroded and non-corroded aluminum alloy samples. Results showed that unreinforced alloys have lower corrosion rates compared to the reinforced alloys. Pits on the reinforced alloys were significantly more numerous, shallower, and widespread than on the monolithic alloys. Al/SiC interface particles and intermetallic phases were observed to form at the mouth of the pits especially in alloys reinforced with SiC particles which might have contributed significantly to the weakening of regions where localized corrosion occurs. The result shows that intermetallic phases may directly influence the corrosion behavior of the aluminum alloys.

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Acknowledgment

The authors express their sincere appreciation to Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering Sciences and Applied Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, KSA for the availability of equipment and services for the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

    Roland Tolulope Loto

  2. Corrosion & Materials Engineer, Houston, TX, USA

    Adeyinka Adeleke

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Adeyinka Adeleke

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  1. Roland Tolulope Loto
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Correspondence to Roland Tolulope Loto.

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Loto, R.T., Adeleke, A. Corrosion of Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composites in Neutral Chloride Solutions. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 16, 874–885 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-016-0157-3

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