Effect of Corrosion and Hydrogen Embrittlement on Tensile Properties of 7050 Aluminum Alloy in EXCO Solution

Abstract:

The corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement behavior as well as their influence on the tensile properties of 7050 aluminum in EXCO solution have been investigated by means of metallographic microscope, slow strain rate testing (SSRT), hydrogen determinator and transmission electron microscope. The results show that the corrosion characteristic develops from pitting to exfoliation with immersion time increasing, and the hydrogen embrittlement effect occurs, too. The combined action of corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement reduces the tensile properties of the alloy to a large degree. The alloy’s residual strength and elongation affected by hydrogen embrittlement have been quantitatively analyzed by tensile tests after removing the corrosion layer. When the immersion time reaches 64 h, the residual strength and elongation influenced only by hydrogen embrittlement decrease to 68.2% and 60.2%, respectively.