Multiphase Al-Zr-Fe alloys with intermetallic compound structure: Mechanisms of corrosion in 3.5 % NaCl and H3BO3 aqueous solutions

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2024-09, Vol.499, p.144713, Article 144713
• Main Authors: Babilas, R., Młynarek-Żak, K., Bajorek, A., Dhiman, I., Rudomilova, D., Prošek, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Al-based alloys; Neutron diffraction; Scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy; Tribocorrosion; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2024.144713

•The corrosion of multiphase al-zr-fe alloys containing intermetallics was studied in aqueous solutions of 3.5 % NaCl, H3BO3 and 3.5 % nacl + H3BO3.•8-week immersion corrosion tests in 3.5 % nacl at 40 °C confirmed different corrosion mechanisms between Al71Zr24Fe5 and Al65Zr20Fe15 alloys.•High volta potential differences between al-zr and al-fe-zr phases were registered using SKPFM.•The Al65Zr20Fe15 alloy was characterized by greater wear resistance in dry conditions and corrosive solutions.•Severe delamination and brittle fracture mechanism was identified for the Al71Zr24Fe5 alloy after tribological tests. In this study, the structure of Al65Zr20Fe15 and Al71Zr24Fe5 alloys was studied using neutron diffraction and SEM with EDX maps. This paper presents the electrochemical measurement results performed in 3.5 % NaCl, H3BO3, and 3.5 % NaCl+H3BO3 solutions at 40 °C. The Al71Zr24Fe5 alloy showed higher corrosion resistance in acidic solution, whereas the Al65Zr20Fe15 alloy was more resistant in 3.5 % NaCl+H3BO3. Moreover, the corrosion behavior was described for the samples immersed for 8 weeks in 3.5 % NaCl at 40 °C. SKPFM indicated high Volta potential differences between Al-Zr and Al-Fe-Zr phases. Moreover, the higher wear resistance for Al65Zr20Fe15 compared to the Al71Zr24Fe5 alloy was demonstrated.