The corrosion performance of Al-Cu and Al-Mg alloys with and without Li additions have been investigated. These include; AA2024-T3, AA2099-T8E77 (coarse and fine grain structure), AA5083-T351, spray formed Al-Mg-Li and spray formed Al-Mg-Li-Cu-Zn alloy. Atmospheric corrosion was investigated for up to 12 months of exposure in a rural-urban environment, prolonged immersion testing in 3.5 wt.% NaCl for up to 96 hr s and potentiodynamic polarisation in 3.5 wt.% NaCl were examined. This was to answer whether Li additions, spray forming and grain size impacted on the corrosion resistance. Atmospheric exposure showed Al2(CO3)3, NOx, SOx and NaCl compounds being deposited. Cathodic intermetallic compounds (Fe, Si, Mn and Cu rich) were shown to be associated with pitting corrosion, whereas anodic intermetallic compounds (Mg rich) offered sacrificial protection to the matrix. The Al-Cu alloys showed more corrosion compared to the Al-Mg alloys in all three corrosion investigations. The Al-Cu alloys showed pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion, compared to primarily pitting corrosion on the Al-Mg alloys. AA2024-T3 developed a weakened, friable layer on the surface, consisting of a network of intergranular corrosion and numerous shallow pits. The Al-Cu-Li alloys also showed intergranular corrosion and pitting corrosion, but also developed selective grain dissolution, leading to extensive sub-surface cavities. This showed that Li additions in the Al-Cu alloys was detrimental and was primarily associated with the T type phases likely to be; T1 phase (Al2CuLi). Li additions in the Al-Mg alloys did not show any measurable improvement or reduction in corrosion resistance. Spray forming also did not appear to improve the corrosion resistance. Grain size in turn was shown to impact on corrosion resistance, with the general consensus being that finer grains offer increased corrosion resistances. Al-Cu alloys showed fine grain structures developed easy path propagation for intergranular corrosion, whereas fine grain structures on Al-Mg alloys promoted increased corrosion resistance.

L’allègement des structures est actuellement un enjeu industriel majeur. L’utilisation de certains alliages d’aluminium couplés à de nouveaux procédés d’assemblages est une bonne réponse à cette problématique. Le procédé de soudage FSW permet notamment la réalisation d’assemblages multi-matériaux en s’affranchissant des problèmes de fusion. Cette étude, réalisée au sein de l’entreprise TRA-C industrie, s’est intéressée plus particulièrement au cas du soudage FSW hétérogène d’alliages d’aluminium des séries 2xxx (Al-Cu-Mg-Ag) et 7xxx (Al-Zn-Mg), dans une large gamme de paramètres industriels. Les caractérisations des assemblages ont pu mettre en avant de fortes hétérogénéités microstructurales et mécaniques au travers des cordons. Ainsi la présence d’une zone faible, adoucie dans la ZAT du côté de l’alliage 7xxx, amène à favoriser la rupture en traction. Une évolution métallurgique importante déclenchée par le cycle thermique généré explique principalement ce phénomène. D’autre part, cette étude expérimentale a été couplée à des travaux de simulation numérique du procédé en configuration homogène. Le modèle éléments finis intègre, pour la première fois, la géométrie réelle et complexe (filetage, facettes, …) de l’outil de soudage utilisé expérimentalement et est couplé à l’utilisation d’une technique de maillage mobile. Cette technique numérique a permis de s’affranchir intégralement des distorsions de mailles conséquentes souvent rencontrées, ainsi que de décrire fidèlement les effets thermomécaniques engendrés par l’outil de soudage. Une étude de sensibilité aux paramètres de soudage ainsi qu’aux matériaux soudés a démontré une excellente corrélation entre les cinétiques thermiques expérimentales et numériques tout en démontrant l’aspect prédictif du modèle. / The lightweight structures optimisation is one of the main topics in transportation industry. It can be achieved by optimisation of materials as well as induced assembly process. As a solid-state process, Friction Stir Welding (FSW) allows to produce dissimilar materials joining while avoiding fusion defects. This work focused on the dissimilar welding of aluminium alloys from 2xxx (Al-Cu-Mg-Ag) and 7xxx (Al-Zn-Mg) series in an industrial context. Joints characterizations were conducted at multiple scales to understand parameters impact on material flow, joint morphology, and performances. They have shown large heterogeneities in the microstructure as well as the global and local mechanical behaviour. Whatever the welding parameters used, good mechanical performance has been reached. A specific softened zone has been detected in the 7xxx alloy’s HAZ which caused fracture during transverse tensile test. Significant metallurgical evolution induced by thermal cycles mainly explains these phenomena.On the other hand, simulation works were also conducted to simulate the welding process in similar material configuration. The finite elements model integrates, for the first time, the real and complex tool design (thread, flats…). Complex geometry can be used by coupling with a specific moving mesh technique. This numerical development completely overcomes the consequent mesh distortion often encountered in FSW simulation. The current model presents good sensitivity and robustness for several welding conditions and materials. It also demonstrates an excellent correlation between experimental and numerical thermal fields while revealing the predictive aspect of the model.

Ce travail de thèse s’est porté sur l’étude des alliages d’aluminium, et en particulier les alliages AA2024-T3 et AA2050-T3. L’alliage AA2024-T3 à base d’Al-Cu-Mg est utilisé depuis des décennies dans le domaine de l’aérospatial pour sa légèreté et ses excellentes propriétés mécaniques, est progressivement remplacé par les alliages Al-Cu-Li tels que l’AA2050-T3. Néanmoins, il en résulte parallèlement une microstructure très hétérogène, rendant l’AA2024 très sensible à la corrosion. Plusieurs moyens de protections - appelés traitements de surface- ont donc été développés, dans le but de ralentir au maximum la dégradation de l’alliage. Le prétraitement, une étape préliminaire au traitement de surface a pour but de préparer la surface de l’alliage. Plusieurs études ont démontré que cette étape est indispensable et assure l’efficacité du traitement de surface. Afin d’observer l’effet du prétraitement, plusieurs techniques de caractérisations de surface sont utilisées. La microscopie électronique à balayage (MEB) et la spectroscopie à photoélectron X (XPS) sont parmi les plus citées. Toutes ces méthodes ont pour objectif de s’assurer de la dissolution des éléments d’alliages, et de mettre en évidence les effets d’enrichissement de cuivre. Jusqu'à présent, aucune méthode n’a permis d’obtenir une analyse complète et in situ de la réactivité de tous les éléments lors du prétraitement. L’objectif principal de ces travaux de thèse était de développer une nouvelle méthodologie, capable de prodiguer une mesure précise de la réactivité d’alliages complexes tels que les alliages d’aluminium durant une séquence de prétraitement et d’apporter des informations sur le AA2050-T3, pour lequel la littérature est beaucoup plus pauvre en données quant à la réactivité de l’élément d’alliage Li avec les solutions de prétraitement. / This PhD thesis focused on the study of aluminum alloys, particularly the AA2024-T3 and AA2050-T3. The Al-Cu-Mg based alloy (AA2024-T3) are used for decades in the field of aerospace for its lightness and excellent mechanical properties are progressively replaced by and Al-Cu-Li (AA2050-T3) alloys. Nevertheless, they exhibit a highly heterogeneous microstructure, making them sensitive to corrosion. Several surface treatments formulations, such as coatings, have been developed, with the aim of slowing as much as possible the degradation of these alloys. The pretreatment, a preliminary step to surface treatment, is intended to prepare the surface of the alloy prior coating application. Several studies have shown that this step is essential and ensures the effectiveness of the surface treatment. In order to observe the effect of the pretreatment, several surface characterization techniques were used. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are among the most cited. All these methods are intended to quantify the dissolution of the alloying elements. To date, none has been able to obtain a complete and in situ analysis of the elemental reactivity of a complex alloy during the pretreatment. The main objective of this thesis was to develop a new methodology capable of providing a precise measurement of the reactivity of complex alloys such as aluminum alloys during a pretreatment sequence and to provide information on AA2050 -T3, as very little is reported about the reactivity of Li during the surface treatment.

La prédiction des durées de vie des pièces de structures aéronautiques a toujours été une problématique à la fois complexe et capitale dans ce domaine de l’industrie. Néanmoins, la majorité des tests existant à l’heure actuelle cherche à évaluer la capacité des matériaux à résister aux sollicitations mécaniques notamment en fatigue. Les problématiques liées à l’endommagement causé par l’environnement comme la corrosion sont encore mal comprises. En effet, bien que certains tests permettent de détecter et de caractériser cet endommagement, aucun outil fiable de prédiction des vitesses de propagation des défauts de corrosion intergranulaire n’existe. Ainsi, actuellement, un défaut de corrosion détecté induit systématiquement un changement de la pièce. Les travaux de cette thèse s’inscrivent dans cette problématique ; ils ont pour but de comprendre les phénomènes de corrosion intergranulaire sur l’alliage d’aluminium 2024, le plus utilisé dans le secteur aéronautique, et d’étudier les cinétiques de propagation des défauts de corrosion. L’étude s’appuie sur une approche multi-échelle des processus de corrosion, des états microstructuraux et de l’influence de l’hydrogène. Ce projet s’inscrit également dans une dynamique de collaboration avec Airbus Group et l’Université de Bourgogne dans le cadre du projet ANR M-SCOT (Multi-Scale Corrosion Testing ANR-14-CE07-0027-01). / Nowadays, cracks kinetics is a key point in aircraft risk and reliability analysis. In particular, the propagation of corrosion defects is of special interest and could promote an early mechanical crack initiation. However, today most of the tests are calibrated to control mechanical damage and do not take into account the propagation of the corrosion defects. Indeed, when a corrosion defect is observed, the airplane part is automatically changed which leads to high manufacturing costs. The aim of this work is to understand the intergranular corrosion mechanisms and to study the propagation kinetics of the corrosion defects in an aeronautical reference alloy, i.e. the 2024-T351 aluminium alloy. A multiscale approach of the corrosion processes, the microstructural states as well as hydrogen influence was performed. This work is supported by ANR-14-CE07-0027-01 – M-SCOT: Multi Scale COrrosion Testing.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a well recognised method for joining aluminium alloys and other engineering materials at a temperature below their melting point. However, the microstructure of the alloys may be modified during the welding process due to frictional heat and severe plastic deformation. In this study, the microstructures of friction stir welded AA5754-H111 and AA5083-O aluminium alloys have been investigated using optical microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy equipped with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) facilities. Typical weld zones introduced by FSW were observed. Further, a joint line remnant flaw (JLR) within the thermomechanical affected zone (TMAZ) of the welds was also revealed. The formation of the JLR is attributed to dispersion of the magnesium rich oxides within the joining line.The effect of the modified alloy microstructure on the corrosion behaviour of the welds has been investigated by corrosion susceptibility testing and ex-situ SEM examination. Both parent alloys and welds showed good exfoliation and intergranular corrosion resistance (IGC). However, severe localized corrosion was observed at joint line remnant and the weld root.Reduced hardness was recorded in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of AA5754-H111 aluminium alloy weldment. This is attributed to the heat generated during welding that led to grain coarsening. In contrast, slightly increased hardness was recorded within the TMAZ. This was related to the grain refinement as a result of the recrystallization process that took place due to the effect of the thermal cycle and the plastic deformation. Little hardness change was recorded within AA5083-O aluminium alloy weldment. This was attributed to the effect of the alloy temper condition.Thermal simulation of the service environment of the friction stir welded alloys was conducted to assess the resistance to sensitization of welds. After exposure of the welded AA5754 and AA5083 alloys at 50, 70 and 170°C for prolonged time, the resistance of the AA5083 alloy weld to the IGC drastically decreased owing to the precipitation of magnesium rich particles known as β-phase at the grain boundaries. On the contrary, the resistance of the AA5754 alloy weld to IGC remained after the thermal exposure. Thus, the level of Mg content in Al-Mg alloys plays an important role in determining the corrosion characteristics of the alloys. The precipitation of Mg rich particles (β-phase) on the grain boundary is the determining factor for the resistance of the AA5xxx alloys to IGC owing to the difference in the electrode potentials between the β-phase and the grain interior, which leads to the generation of microgalvanic cells and selective dissolution of the grain boundary.

Corrosion Protection and Microstructure of Dissimilar Materials. A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Uyime, Donatus on the 30th of July, 2015.Investigations on the micro- and macro-galvanic corrosion mechanisms in un-coupled AA2024-T3 alloys, AA2024-T3 coupled with mild steel (with and without the influence of cadmium and under varying solution temperatures), dissimilar friction stir welds of AA5083-O and AA6082-T6 alloys and a friction stir welded AA7018 alloy have been carried out. Selected methods of preventing and / or minimising the investigated corrosion phenomena were also investigated. The investigation of the corrosion behaviour of the uncoupled AA2024-T3 alloy revealed that there are two distinct stages of polarization during the galvanostatic polarization of AA2024T3 alloy in de-aerated 3.5% NaCl solution. From the first stage, the relationships between the pitting incubation time, pitting potential and applied current density for AA2024T3 alloy in the de-aerated condition were established. Whilst studying the in situ corrosion phenomena on the uncoupled AA2024-T3 alloy using the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET),three distinct stages in the variation of the recorded current density values with time were revealed. Attempts were made to correlate these stages with the corrosion behaviour of the alloy. The study of the galvanic interactions between AA2024-T3 and mild steel revealed that AA2024-T3 is anodic to mild steel at room temperature, but polarity reversal of the couple starts (from a temperature as low as 35 oC upwards) when the couple is introduced into the solution above ambient temperature. Importantly, AA2024-T3 is clearly cathodic to mild steel at 60 oC, although with very low measured galvanic current values. Cadmium coating (at ambient temperature) on the mild steel reduced the galvanic corrosion of the couple by as much as 20 µA/cm2 because of the formation of a CdO/Cd(OH)2 layer on mild steel. In the study of the dissimilar friction stir welds of AA5083-O and AA6082-T6 alloys, it was observed that material flows (pushes but does not mix) more from the advancing side into the retreating side and that the mixture of materials is far from complete. Two welding speeds were compared; the welding speeds have no clear influence on the microhardness, but affected the mixing proportions in the flow arm and in the nugget stem. The faster welding speed resulted in increased susceptibility to corrosion because of the reduced tool rotation per weld length for heat generation and the mixing of materials. The heat affected zones of both alloys and the transition regions between the AA5083-O alloy and the AA6082-T6 alloy rich zones have been identified to be the regions that are most susceptible to corrosion. Anodizing the weld in order to minimise corrosion showed that the AA5083-O alloy rich zones materials, in the weld, oxidizes more during anodizing compared with the AA6082-T6 alloy rich zones. Sputtering deposition prior to anodizing, promotes the formation of a uniform oxide film across the entire weld zones and prevents the boundary dissolution that occurs when the dissimilar weld of AA5083-O and AA6082-T6 alloys is anodized in 4 M H2SO4 solution at 15 V at ambient temperature. The investigation of the corrosion susceptible regions in friction stir welded AA7018 alloy, which was based on the use of ISO 11846 immersion test and the potentiodynamic polarization technique in naturally aerated 3.5 % NaCl solution, revealed intergranular, crystallographic and second phase particle influenced mode of attack. The heat affected zone was found to be the most susceptible to corrosion.