Corrosion-resistant aluminum matrix for graphite-aluminum composites

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Corrosion (Houston); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5006/1.3293472· OSTI ID:6672720

Wendt, R G; Moshier, W C ^[1]; Shaw, B ^[2]; Miller, P ^[3]; Olson, D L ^[4]

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1. Martin Marietta Astronautics, Denver, CO (United States)
2. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
3. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
4. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)

Graphite-aluminum (Gr-Al) metal matrix composites (MMC) possess several attractive mechanical and thermal properties, but use of these materials has been limited, partly because they are extremely susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion-resistant Al alloys that contained nonequilibrium concentrations of molybdenum (Mo) were developed as the matrix for G-Al composites using co-sputter deposition. Corrosion testing included potentiodynamic polarization and galvanic coupling of as-sputtered (AS) and heat-treated (HT) alloys. Polarization behavior of the AS and HT alloys measured in sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions was improved greatly over that of pure Al and traditional Gr-Al matrix alloys such as type 6061 Al (UNS A96061). Galvanic current density values for as-deposited and HT Al-18% Mo and Al-23% Mo alloys coupled to equal areas of pitch-based graphite from Amoco P75 Gr fibers were found to be up to 3 orders of magnitude lower than for pure sputtered Al-to-Gr couples. Galvanic diagrams for the Al-Mo alloys indicated corrosion was controlled by the anodic reaction irrespective of the cathode-to-anode area ratio.

• OSTI ID: 6672720
• Journal Information: Corrosion (Houston); (United States), Journal Name: Corrosion (Houston); (United States) Vol. 50:11; ISSN 0010-9312; ISSN CORRAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
360604 -- Materials-- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM BASE ALLOYS
CARBON FIBERS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CORROSION RESISTANCE
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
FIBERS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SODIUM CHLORIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES