Al-5Cu/B4Cp composites: The combined effect of artificially aging (T6) and particle volume fractions on the corrosion behaviour

In this study, the Al-5Cu matrix composites reinforced with different boron carbide (B4C) particle volume fractions have been successfully produced by the hot-pressing method. Then, the artificially aging (T6) was applied to the composites for increasing their mechanical properties. The combined effect of the T6 heat treating and the B4C particle volume fraction on the corrosion behaviour of the composites were investigated by potentiodynamic scanning (PDS) technique under aerated and deaerated 3.5% NaCl marine environments. The effect of the T6 treating on the hardness and corrosion susceptibilities of the composites were also evaluated microstructurally to contribute to their industrial use and production processes. The microstructural characterization of the composites was carried out by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an attached energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that the corrosion susceptibilities of the composite have been interestingly decreased with increasing the B4C particle volume fraction in the matrix while the T6 treatment enhances the pitting susceptibility of the composites. The reason of the behaviour has been discussed in details the text. (C) 2020 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.