In Vitro Corrosion Response of FSW Processed Al-Cu-Mg/Fe-Cr-Ni Dissimilar Alloys for Marine Applications
摘要
This study investigates the corrosion behavior of FSWed SS304/AA2024-T3 joints in chloride-rich environments, focusing on welding-induced microstructural changes affecting localized and galvanic corrosion. FSW was performed using optimized parameters: 560 rpm tool rotation, 25 mm/min welding speed, 1.75° tilt angle, and 1.5 mm tool pin offset toward the Al side. Microstructural analysis revealed an ultra-refined stir zone (SZ) with a 4.2 μm average grain size due to plastic deformation (PD) and dynamic recrystallization (DRX). 360 h corrosion immersion testing in 3.5% NaCl solution showed the FSWed joint had a corrosion rate (CR) of 0.0203 mm/year, significantly lower than AA2024-T3 (CR = 0.1044 mm/year) and similar to SS304 (CR = 0.0173 mm/year). Corrosion morphology indicated pitting, intergranular corrosion (IGC), and blistering at the Al/SS interface due to galvanic effects and intermetallic compounds (IMCs) like FeAl₃. While FSW improves corrosion resistance via grain refinement, galvanic interactions and interface heterogeneity highlight the need for interface optimization and surface treatments for better marine durability.