The contribution of hydrogen to the corrosion of 2024 aluminium alloy exposed to thermal and environmental cycling in chloride media

Céline Larignon (1, 2) , Joël Alexis (2) , Eric Andrieu (1) , Grégory Odemer (1) , Christine Blanc (1)

1 CIRIMAT - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche et d'ingenierie des matériaux
2 LGP - Laboratoire Génie de Production

This work is focused on the role of hydrogen in corrosion damage induced by the cyclic exposure of 2024 aluminium alloy to chloride media with air emersion periods at room and/or negative temperatures. Various analysis and microscopic observation techniques were applied at intergranular corrosion defects. A mechanism involving the contribution of hydrogen to the degradation of the alloy mechanical properties is presented. Several consecutive stress states appear during cycling, resulting from volume expansion of the electrolyte trapped in the intergranular defects during emersion phases at -20°C. These stress states lead to hydrogen diffusion, transport and trapping.

Mots clés: Aluminium; SIMS; Hydrogen absorption; Hydrogen embrittlement; Intergranular corrosion; Stress corrosion

Domaines: Matériaux

Céline Larignon, Joël Alexis, Eric Andrieu, Grégory Odemer, Christine Blanc. The contribution of hydrogen to the corrosion of 2024 aluminium alloy exposed to thermal and environmental cycling in chloride media. Corrosion Science, 2013, 69, pp.211-220. ⟨10.1016/j.corsci.2012.12.005⟩. ⟨hal-03526653⟩