The footprint of surface modification treatments on the corrosion-fatigue of AA7075-T651

Abstract

Different manufacturing and surface modification treatments distinctively affect the surface characteristics and microstructure of the workpiece, having a different impact on their effective life-span. The corrosion-fatigue behavior of as-machined (wire-EDM), blasted and anodized aluminum alloy 7075-T651 was investigated using 3.5wt% NaCl aqueous solution and distilled water as corrosive media. An in-situ corrosion-fatigue device capable of producing cyclic loads in a corrosive solution was employed, coupled with FEM analysis. Blasting process offered a prolongation of the corrosion-fatigue life-span in both corrosive media, when compared to the as-machined samples under identical conditions. Anodizing had a deleterious effect in all the examined cases.