Effect of Cr, Yb and Zr additions on localized corrosion of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy

The effect of Cr, Yb and Zr additions on localized corrosion of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy has been investigated. Additions of Cr, Yb and Zr to Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy stabilized the deformation-recovery microstructure with low angle grain boundaries on which grain boundary precipitates distributed discretely. The exfoliation and stress corrosion cracking of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys propagated along the high angle recrystallized grain boundaries. The unrecrystallized Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr–Cr–Yb alloy exhibited higher resistance to stress corrosion cracking and exfoliation corrosion, compared to the partial recrystallized Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloy with high angle grain boundaries.