Corrosion Properties of Light-weight and High-strength 2195 Al-Li Alloy

The intergranular corrosion and exfoliation corrosion of 2195 Al-Li alloy treated by multi-step heating-rate controlled aging (MSRC) are studied. The corrosion features of 2195 Al-Li alloys which are respectively treated by high-temperature nucleation MSRC (H-M) and low-temperature nucleation MSRC (L-M) are contrasted. And the corrosion mechanism of 2195 Al-Li alloy is also discussed from the viewpoint of microstructure (types, distribution, etc.) of the strengthening phase. The results show that 2195 Al-Li alloy after H-M is more susceptible to intergranular corrosion and exfoliation corrosion than that of alloy after L-M. The degree of intergranular corrosion increases with the increase of predeformation amount and the surface parallel to the rolling direction is more prone to exfoliation corrosion. The main reason of intergranular corrosion and exfoliation corrosion is the formation of corrosion galvanic couples among T1 phase, θ′ phase and grain boundary precipitate-free zones (PFZ).