Improvement of micro-hardness and electrochemical properties of Al-4%Cu-0.5%Mg alloy by Ag addition

Abstract

The base system of alloys Al-4% Cu-0. 5% Mg, known as the designation of duralumin 201, are very appreciated by the aerospace, partly automotive and industrial in general, for its great strength, high temperature and corrosion resistant. These kinds of alloys have excellent response to precipitation hardening. This study evaluates the effect of silver content in the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the alloy. It was found that the addition of silver in the alloys led to a delay time of homogenization and accelerates the aging time, causing the precipitation of Guinier Preston zones and the consequent increase in hardness and improvement of the mechanical properties of alloys. Moreover, the addition of Ag to alloys Al-4% Cu-0.5% Mg gives a better resistance to corrosion, giving noble features and reducing the corrosion current in chloride aqueous media. The global control of the dissolution of the alloys Al-4% Cu-0.5% Mg-Ag will be given by the diffusion of oxygen from the bulk of the solution to the metal surface. The corrosion potential of alloys Al-4% Cu-0.5% Mg-Ag coincide with the pitting potential of the material (-0.62V), this makes the material not generate a passive layer and its dissolution is controlled purely by activation of the surface and the reaction rate of the cathodic reduction of oxygen.