Electrochemical characterization of alloy segregation in the near-surface deformed layer of welded zones of an Al-Cu-Li alloy using scanning electrochemical microscopy

The development of heterogeneous electrochemical activity in the welded zones of aluminum alloy 2098-T351 by friction stir welding (FSW) associated with the formation of a near-surface deformed layer (NSDL) upon exposure to an aqueous chloride-containing solution was characterized using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in potentiometric operation. A solid-contact Mg2+ ion-selective microelectrode allowed in situ monitoring of the corrosion reactions sites for magnesium dissolution from different zones of the FSW weld upon exposure to a chloride-containing aqueous environment. In this way, localized corrosion reactions developing in the galvanically coupled joint/heat affected zones (WJ/HAZ) of the weld were detected and imaged with spatial resolution. The most active domains for local Mg2+ concentrations were associated with the HAZ of the retreating side (RS), and these corresponded to Mg oxidation from the Mg-enriched oxide bands in NSDL.

Automated summary

This study characterized the development of heterogeneous electrochemical activity in the welded zones of an aluminum alloy and detected localized corrosion reactions in the near-surface deformed layer formed upon exposure to a chloride-containing solution.