Corrosion Fatigue of Al-Zn-Mg and and Al-Mg-Li Alloys.
Abstract
Corrosion fatigue and related electrochemical experiments have been conducted on a high purity Al-Zn-Mg ternary alloy and a high purity Al-Mg-Li ternary alloy. The electrochemical experiments were performed in solutions of various concentrations of sodium chloride and sodium sulfate as functions of pH, temperature and degree of aeration. Thin sheets of the alloys were examined in strain controlled fatigue with controlled environmental conditions. Samples were heat treated to obtain the maximum tensile strength, electropolished, and stored in vacuum to remove absorbed hydrogen. Fatigue tests were performed in dry nitrogen gas as a reference environment, and compared with tests in humid nitrogen, distilled water, 0.5 molar sodium sulfate and 0.5 molar sodium chloride. The corrosion test results indicate that the corrosion potentials of the Al-Mg-Li alloy are considerably more active than those of the Al-Zn-Mg alloy and that the pitting potentials are slightly more active. Therefore, while the lithium alloy pits more readily at the same potential in a given environment, the overpotential or energy required to induce pitting in the lithium containing alloy is greater than that required for Al-Zn-Mg alloys. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that corrosion fatigue of these alloys in environments containing water to water vapor results from hydrogen assisted fracture. The differences in the behavior of the alloys is attributed to either reduced hydrogen absorption or to reduced susceptibility to hydrogen assisted fracture.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA162627
Entities
People
- D. J. Duquette
- R. E. Ricker
Organizations
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute