Influence of the degree of polishing of alloy AA 5083 on its behaviour against localised alkaline corrosion

A study has been conducted of the influence of the surface finish on the behaviour against the corrosion of samples of alloy AA 5083 immersed in aerated solutions of NaCl at 3.5%. Samples polished from 80 to 1200 grit have been tested, utilising as experimental techniques, measurements of weight loss, optical and scanning electron microscopy, linear polarisations and electrochemical noise measurement (ENM). In the conditions studied, the principal corrosion process that takes place is localised alkaline corrosion (LAC). This type of corrosion occurs as a consequence of the alkalinisation of the area surrounding the Al(Mn,Fe,Cr) cathodic precipitates that exist in the alloy. The results obtained indicate that the samples polished to 1200 grit present a greater susceptibility to processes of localised alkaline corrosion than the samples polished to 80 grit. It has been found that the degree of polishing conditions the number of intermetallic particles exposed. Hence the differences of behaviour observed between the sets of results obtained have been interpreted as an effect function of the density of cathodic intermetallic particles exposed on the surface. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.