The role of solidification rate in the corrosion resistance of a directionally solidified novel aluminium–lanthanum alloy

The corrosion resistance of a novel Al–12.6 wt.%La alloy manufactured using unidirectional solidification was studied by sensitive electrochemical techniques. It was found that the electrochemical behaviour of the alloy depends upon the formation of non-passive corrosion product layers. Different solidification rates produced dissimilar microstructures which promoted selective dissolution when the alloy was anodically polarized in distilled water. A model for the electrochemical behaviour of this alloy was proposed based on an equivalent circuit that simulated the impedance results.