Tribocorrosion Behavior of Aluminum/Alumina Composite Manufactured by Anodizing and ARB Processes

Abstract

In the present work, tribocorrosion behavior of Al/Al2O3 composite strips manufactured by anodizing and accumulative roll bonding (ARB) processes was investigated. The alumina quantity was 0.48, 1.13, and 3.55 vol.% in the aluminum matrix. Tribocorrosion experiments were conducted using a ball-on-plate tribometer, where the sliding contact was fully immersed in 1 wt.% NaCl solution. The composite sample served as a working electrode and its open circuit potential (OCP) was monitored before, during, and after sliding. In order to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the surface before and after sliding electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used and wear was also measured. Furthermore, the influence of quantity and distribution of reinforcement particles in the matrix on OCP and EIS was evaluated. It was found that the quantity, shape, size, and dispersion of alumina particles in the aluminum matrix strongly affected the measured tribocorrosion characteristics. The results showed that inhomogeneous, lower quantity, fine, and acicular-shape alumina particles cause serious materials loss in tribocorrosion process.