Effect of thermal shock process in accelerated environment spectrum on the fatigue life of 7B04-T6 aluminum alloy

Abstract

The effect of thermal shock, in an accelerated-corrosion environment spectrum, on the fatigue and corrosion behavior of 7B04-T6 aluminum alloy, was determined. The environment spectrum consists of two modules, namely: salt-spray corrosion and thermal shock. The effect of thermal shock on the mechanical properties was determined via tensile tests; SEM, DCS, and XRD were used to determine the effect of thermal shock on the corrosion products. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the products was ascertained through electrochemical testing. The results show that the mechanical properties and fatigue life of the aluminum alloy will decline with prolonged thermal shock time. The thermal shock process may result in denser surface corrosion products than those formed on the no thermal shock specimens, and transformation of some Al (OH)3 into AlOOH. AlOOH may have resulted in improved corrosion resistance and hence a lower decrease in the fatigue life after corrosion, compared with that of the no thermal shock specimen. Repeated corrosion/thermal shock may have delayed further decease in the fatigue life. Therefore, selection of an appropriate equivalent thermal shock temperature and time was essential for designing the environmental spectrum.