Precipitation in an AA6111 aluminium alloy and cosmetic corrosion

The near-surface deformed layer on AA6111 automotive closure sheet alloy, generated by mechanical grinding during rectification, has an ultrafine grain microstructure, of 50-150 nm diameter, and a sharp transition with the underlying bulk alloy microstructure. Grinding and heat treatment to simulate rectification and paint baking processes result in the nucleation and growth of similar to 20 nm diameter precipitates at grain boundaries within the near-surface deformed layer. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy has shown Q phase precipitates in the deformed layer, giving dramatically increased corrosion susceptibility compared with the bulk inicrostructure, and this is responsible for the rapid-onset filiform corrosion. Transmission electron microscopy of the corrosion attack showed directly that the mode of corrosion was intergranular and that the Q phase precipitates were preserved after the passage of the corrosion front. (c) 2006 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.