Relationship between alloy composition, microstructure and exfoliation corrosion in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys
Résumé
The exfoliation corrosion (EFC) susceptibility of several 7000 Aluminium alloys has been studied after a variety of heat treatments using two independent corrosion tests (standard EXCO test and an electrochemical test based on potential transients analysis), together with detailed microstructural examinations. It is proposed that depending on heat treatment EFC may occur via two different mechanisms: inter-granular dissolution induced damage (IDD) or inter-granular fracture induced damage (IFD). The coexistence of these two mechanisms, leading to EFC, and their relative predominance explain the influence of alloy composition and heat treatment on EFC susceptibility via the confrontation of the two corrosion tests. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.