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corrosion can develop. Galvanic corrosion on saucer shaped, conical, or hemispherical. Pit walls
a microscopic scale can also occur between usually are irregular in profile when viewed under a
constituents of multi-phase alloys and of impure microscope.
metals which contain foreign particles and
Pitting occurs when a film-protected metal is
intermetallic compounds.
almost, but not completely, resistant to corrosion,
When aluminium is coupled with copper or as in the case of aluminium and its alloys. It usually
brass, corrosive attack upon the aluminium is occurs on a metal surface immersed in a solution
accelerated by these materials in severe or modest or moist environment, such as soil. It can occur
atmospheres and conditions of immersion. Contact on a surface exposed to the atmosphere if there
between aluminium and stainless steel (18/8, are droplets of moisture or condensed moisture
18/8/2 and 13% Cr) will only slightly increase the film present on the metal surface. Pitting may also
corrosion of the aluminium in dry atmospheres. occur in crevices, in which case it is called crevice
However, it is markedly increased in moist corrosion (see above).
atmospheres, particularly in marine conditions.
Pitting usually occurs on metals that are covered
A simple way of avoiding bimetallic corrosion with a very thin, often transparent, passive
is to isolate the two metals from one another. oxide film that may form during fabrication or
This can be achieved by good design and where be produced by reaction with the environment.
necessary by inserting an insulating material such Thus, pitting occurs on magnesium, aluminium,
as neoprene between the metal/metal contact. titanium, stainless steel, and copper in cases in
This would be important in an application where an which surface films develop. Pits initiate at flaws
aluminium component is fixed in place with a steel within the surface film and at sites where the film is
article. damaged mechanically under conditions in which
self-repair will not occur. Most cases of pitting are
Crevice Corrosion
believed to be caused by local cathodic sites in an
Intense localised corrosion, ranging from small pits otherwise normal surface.
to extensive corrosion over the whole surface, can
If a pitted surface is dried out, the pits will
occur within narrow crevices that may be formed
terminate. When rewetted, some of the pits
by:-
may be reactivated. This may be due to the re-
The geometry of the structure, e.g. riveted plates, establishment of the conditions or to differential
threaded joints etc. aeration between the solution in the main pit cavity
Contact of metal with non-metallic solids, e.g. and solutions in some of the cracks that emanate
plastics, rubber etc. from it deeper into the metal.
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at the grain boundaries. During the formation of
intermetallic second phase precipitates along
the grain boundaries, an adjacent matrix zone is
formed that has a different solution potential. The
precipitate may be anodic to the matrix such as
Mg5Al8, in which case it corrodes preferentially; or
it may be cathodic, such as CuAl2, in which case
it does not corrode, but stimulates corrosion in
the adjacent matrix zone. In either case, selective
grain boundary corrosion occurs. The degree of
susceptibility of an alloy to intergranular attack can
vary depending on its microstructure, in particular,
the amount, size, and distribution of second
phases, which is a result of the metallurgical
history and thermal treatment. Heat treatments
that cause precipitation throughout the grain tend
to diminish the intergranular attack. It is significant
that in certain aged conditions, Al-Mg-Cu alloys in components which are externally unstressed.
may suffer intergranular corrosion, but not It is generally agreed that there is no single
stress corrosion cracking, as a result of different mechanism for SCC. Any combination of a number
precipitate distribution. of significant factors may contribute to a given
Exfoliation Corrosion SCC failure.
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Alloy Selection The 7XXX series are high-strength alloys and
thus may have reduced corrosion resistance.
Wrought Alloys Hence there is a need for protection in aggressive
The durability of aluminium enables its use in many environments to prevent, for example, stress
applications and in doing so it may come into corrosion cracking.
contact with aggressive environments. To achieve Casting Alloys
strength, aluminium is alloyed with other elements.
Not only are the mechanical properties affected, Aluminium casting alloys are still commonly
but also the corrosion properties change. specified as the LM series from the former BS
1490. As the current standard is now BS EN 1676,
The common groups of wrought alloys are shown with a five-figure designation, the information
below; below refers to the LM series, but with a BS EN
1XXX Commercially pure Aluminium. 1676 equivalent in brackets.
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produces a hard, relatively thick film of aluminium
oxide on the surface of the aluminium when the
metal is made the anode in a suitable electrolyte
and current is passed through the circuit. The
different types of anodising used commercially
are:-
Sulphuric Acid Anodising.
Integral Colour Anodising.
Chromic Acid Anodising.
Hard Anodising.
Other protection methods include chemical
conversion coatings and various paint finishes e.g.
powder coating. Chemical pre-treatment prior to
painting is essential. Sacrificial anodes, e.g. zinc,
can be used to protect aluminium alloy structures
when used in marine environments.