Influence of Acidic and Salt Media on The Corrosion Behavior of Aluminum Matrix Composites Reinforced by Al2O3 Particles

Abstract

Corrosion behavior of pure Al and Al/ Al2O3 composite with five weight percent of Al2O3 particles (5,10,15,20 and 25) were investigated in 0.1M H2SO4 and 3.5 % NaCl solutions at room temperature. The composites were prepared by powder metallurgy and their corrosion behavior were evaluated by potentiostatic polarization and scan rate 3mV.sec-1.It's observed that pure Al/Al2O3 composites exhibited excellent corrosion resistance in NaCl medium than in the H2SO4 media. The pure aluminum exhibited slightly superior corrosion resistance than the composites in NaCl medium but the composites had better corrosion resistance in H2SO4 medium. Insulator Al2O3 particles are perceived to act as inert material and degrade the integrity of the protective oxide layer on the Al matrix.Al/Al2O3 composites have lower corrosion rate than pure aluminum in 0.1 M H2SO4, but increasing of wt% of alumina led to increase the corrosion rate. While in 3.5% NaCl solution can be seen that corrosion rate of pure aluminum less than that for composites. Generlly, For certain material, the corrosion rate in salt medium less than in acidic medium.