Corrosion of the Welded Aluminium Alloy in 0.5 M NaCl Solution. Part 1: Specificity of Development

Abstract

This work consists of two parts. In the first part, the kinetics and mechanism of corrosion on the surface of the welded joint area of the aircraft 1579 aluminium alloy have been studied using SVET (scanning vibrating electrode technique) and SIET (scanning ion-selective electrode technique) in 0.5 M NaCl. The results have revealed the corrosion process development within the weld interface due to the presence of microdefects in the morphological structure. Features of the 1579 Al alloy corrosion have also been investigated through immersion experiments, quantitative analysis of dissolved alloying elements by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, and corrosion products characterization using XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis. The presence of Mg as an alloying element in the 1579 Al alloy sufficiently increases the bulk pH values as a result of the intensive dissolution of Mg. These factors accelerate the corrosion activity of the studied material in the 0.5 M NaCl solution. Corrosion evolution analysis of the 1579 Al alloy sample showed the importance of the coating formation to protect this alloy against corrosion and to increase the stability of this system in the corrosive media.