Stress corrosion cracking behavior of fine-grained Al5083 alloys processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP)

Abstract

In the present study, the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of ECAP Al5083 alloy was investigated in air as well as in 3.5 % NaCl solution using the slow strain rate tensile test (SSRT). The characteristics of grain boundary precipitates (GBPs), specifically the microchemistry of the SCC behavior of Al5083 alloys, both in “as-received” condition and when deformed by the ECAP process, were examined. The correlations between the SCC resistance and GBP microchemistry were examined. A microstructural evaluation was performed using an optical microscope. SCC tests were carried out using a universal tensile testing machine and the fracture surfaces were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A strain rate of 1×10-6 s-1 was applied for the SSRT. As the passes increased, the SCC susceptibility of the fine-grained ECAP Al5083 alloy also increased. Moreover, higher ultimate tensile strength and greater elongation were observed. This was due to grain refinement, high-density separations, and the expanded extent of high-density dislocations instigated by severe plastic deformation. Due to the high strength and elongation, the failure analysis showed a ductile mode of fracture. Electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis was performed to determine more clearly the nature of cracking. EBSD analysis showed that the crack propagation occurred in both transgranular and intergranular modes.