A mathematical model of the initiation of crevice corrosion of aluminium and its alloys in sea water has been developed. The mechanism of the process, which is fundamentally different to that for stainless steels, was established during the development of the model. Practical exposure tests have been carried out on alloys 1050A, 2024-T3, 5083, 6061, 6082, 7010, 8090-T3 and 8090-T851 at DRA's facilities in Portland Harbour, Weymouth, UK. The model successfully predicts the observations found in these tests with respect to initiation of attack. A simple empirical model of the propagation of attack based on the level of Cu and Zn in the alloy has also been developed. This shows reasonable correlation with the exposure test data.

Subject
Water, Hydrogen evolution, Passive current, Aluminum, Corrosion initiation, Copper alloys, Crevices, Mathematical models, Crevice corrosion, Pitting, Aluminum alloys, Alloys, Corrosion potential
Keywords:
Crevice corrosion, aluminium, aluminium alloys, sea water
Government work published by the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) with permission of the author(s). Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1996
GOV
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