Corrosion resistance of ultrasonic soldered aluminium joint using Zn-based solder alloy

Abstract

In order to obtain high strength aluminium butt joints with high corrosion resistance, ultrasonic soldering of 1070 and 5056 rods was conducted using quasi-melting Zn–18Sn (mass%) alloy and Zn–38A1 alloy. Ultrasonic vibrations were applied at soldering temperature ranging 533–723 K through aluminium rods without using of a solder bath. To evaluate the corrosion resistance of solder joints, tensile tests were conducted after immersion in a 5% NaCl aqueous solution. Though joint strength decreased with an increase in immersion time in the NaCl aqueous solution because of corrosion in the joints, corrosion resistance of 5056 joints with Zn–38A1 alloy was higher than that of joints with Zn–18Sn alloy irrespective of aluminium base material. The strength of joints with Zn–18Sn alloy rapidly decreased by immersion in the NaCl aqueous solution. In these joints, corrosion occurred locally in the soldered interface. Corrosion potential of these joints was unusually lower than that of the solder alloy. In contrast, corrosion occurred slowly in the solder layer in 5056 joints with Zn–38A1 alloy. Corrosion potential of the joints was equivalent to that of the solder alloy.