The Corrosion Behaviour of Aluminum Alloy 2024 - T3 in Acidic Environments

Abstract

This research aimed at analysing the acidic corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy 2024-T3 commonly used in the aerospace. We study the variation of corrosion rate with immersion time at different values of H₂SO₄ concentration and corrosion rate variation depending on the concentration of the solution setting the group of corrosion of the alloy. Aluminum forms initially a few-nm-thick layer of aluminum oxide, γ-Al, which after prolonged exposure in humidified air is covered by aluminum  oxyhydroxide, γ-AlOOH, and subsequently by various hydrated aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides. The exposed metal surfaces involved aspects of the corrosion process in 0.1M H₂SO₄, 0.01M H₂SO₄ and 0.001M H₂SO₄ solutions, to determine the type of corrosion and propagation mechanism in acidic environments.