Role of constituent intermetallic phases and precipitates in initiation and propagation of intergranular corrosion of an Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy

X. Xu, M. Hao, J. Chen, W. He, G. Li, K. Li, C. Jiao, X. L. Zhong, K. L. Moore, T. L. Burnett*, X. Zhou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The corrosion behaviour of a recently developed Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy thick plate was investigated using correlative immersion testing in 3.5% NaCl solution with analytical electron and ion microscopy. Intergranular corrosion was observed along grain boundaries and the particle-matrix interface of Al7Cu2(Fe, Mn) and Al20Cu2Mn3 phases from 7 min of immersion. The Li-containing Al7Cu2(Fe, Mn) phases are electrochemically more active and susceptible to de-alloying than the Al20Cu2Mn3 phases. Intergranular T1 (Al2CuLi) precipitates are attacked via selective dissolution of Li and Al. In contrast to previous observation, the dissolution rates of T1 precipitates and the adjacent alloy matrix are almost the same.

Original languageEnglish
Article number110294
JournalCorrosion Science
Volume201
Early online date4 Apr 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Aluminium-lithium alloy
  • Constituent intermetallic phase
  • Correlative microscopy
  • Intergranular corrosion
  • Precipitate

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Photon Science Institute
  • Henry Royce Institute

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