Electrochemical behaviour of aluminium/steel rivet joints

The galvanic corrosion behaviour of a rivet joint of two sheets of the aluminium alloys EN AW-6014-T4 and EN AW-6082-T5 joined by an electrogalvanized steel blind rivet was investigated. The potentiodynamic polarization curves in a 5 wt.% NaCl solution show a potential reversion of the anodic and cathodic regions of the rivet joint. The surface potential was investigated with a capillary electrode before and after corrosion. From the measurements by the capillary electrode and SEM-observations an improved resistance against galvanic corrosion is expected after the dissolution of the zinc layer of the blind rivet.

Research highlights
► Electrochemical corrosion behaviour of a rivet joint.
► Contact corrosion and surface potential.
► Polarization curves including a reverse scan.
► SEM observation.