Corrosion Behavior of Alumina Reinforced Aluminium (6063) Metal Matrix Composites

K. K. Alaneme, M. O. Bodunrin

Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology,Akure, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2011.1012088                

Abstract

The influence of alumina volume percent and solution heat-treatment on the corrosion behaviour of Al (6063) composites and its monolithic alloy in salt water, basic and acidic environments is investigated. Al (6063) – Al₂O₃ particulate composites containing 6, 9, 15, and 18 volume percent alumina were produced by adopting two step stir casting. Mass loss and corrosion rate measurements were utilized as criteria for evaluating the corrosion behaviour of the composites. It is observed that Al (6063) – Al₂O₃ composites exhibited excellent corrosion resistance in NaCl medium than in the NaOH and H₂SO₄ media. The unreinforced alloy exhibited slightly superior corrosion resistance than the composites in NaCl and NaOH media but the composites had better corrosion resistance in H₂SO₄ medium. Furthermore, solution heat-treatment resulted in improved corrosion resistance for both the composites and the unreinforced alloy while the effect of volume percent alumina on corrosion resistance did not follow a consistent trend.

Keywords

Stir casting; Al (6063) – Al₂O₃ composite; solution heat-treatment; Corrosion rate; mass loss

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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