Influence of the nickel on the corrosion behavior of Al-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy

The corrosion behavior of cold worked Al-Mg-Sc-Zr-Ni alloys prepared by vacuum induction melting in acidic chloride solution was studied. The morphological characteristics of the corroded specimens were examined by OM(optical microscopy), SEM, and EDX techniques. The results indicated that the intergranular and exfoliation corrosion susceptibility dramatically depended on the Ni content. The Al-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy with 0 and 0.5 wt.% Ni were lightly susceptible to intergranular corrosion as the precipitation of Mg2Al3 phases presented at grain boundaries and the Al3Ni particles were finely dispersive. The intergramilar corrosion was enhanced by the Al3Ni particles enrichment and became pitting corrosion with increasing Ni to 1.0 wt.%. Finally, the exfoliation corrosion happened to the alloy with 2.0wt.% Ni. This trend correlated well with the electrochemical property and distribution of Al3Ni phases. The corrosion potential of Al3Ni intermetallic phase is nobler than the beta phase and the matrix, which result in an appearance of galvanic coupling. In addition, the increase of Al3Ni particles enlarged the attack area and the inhomogeneous segments of Al3Ni and Al3Mg2 phases accelerated the localized corrosion.