Microstructures and corrosion behaviors of Al–6.5Si–0.45Mg–xSc casting alloy

Abstract

The microstructures and corrosion behaviors of the Al–6.5Si–0.45Mg casting alloys with the addition of Sc were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical measurement techniques and immersion corrosion tests and compared with those of Sr-modified alloy. The results show that Sc has evident refining and modifying effects on the primary α(Al) and the eutectic Si phase of the alloy, and the effects can be enhanced with the increase of Sc content. When the Sc content is increased to 0.58 wt.%, its modifying effect on the eutectic Si is almost same as that of Sr. Sc can improve the corrosion resistance of the test alloy in NaCl solution when compared with Sr, but the excessively high Sc content cannot further increase the corrosion resistance of the alloy. The corrosion of the alloys mainly occurs in the eutectic region of the alloy, and mostly the eutectic α(Al) is dissolved. This confirms that Si phase is more noble than α(Al) phase, and the galvanic couplings can be formed between the eutectic Si and α(Al) phases.