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The role of microstructure of nickel-aluminium-bronze alloy on its cavitation corrosion behavior in natural seawater

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150 Scopus citations

Abstract

An investigation was carried out in our laboratory to study the effect of the microstructure of nickel-aluminum-bronze (NAB) alloy on its cavitation corrosion behaviour in seawater using a 20-kHz ultrasonic induced cavitation facility. Cavitation tests were made under free corrosion conditions as a function of exposure time in natural seawater. Optical and scanning electron microscopy showed NAB immersed in stagnant seawater suffered from selective corrosion of the copper-rich α phase at boundaries with intermetallic κ precipitates. The κ precipitates and precipitate-free zones did not suffer corrosion. Cavitation made the surface of this alloy very rough, with large cavities or pits, ductile tearing and corrosion of the boundaries of the α columnar grains. In addition, the number of cavities and their size increased with exposure time. Microcracks 5-10 μm long were observed in the α phase adjacent to κ precipitates along the cross-section of the material. Selective phase corrosion and cavitation stresses were considered to be the cause of the cracks observed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-41
Number of pages5
JournalMaterials Characterization
Volume48
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2002

Keywords

  • Cavitation
  • Corrosion
  • Intermetallic
  • Microstructure
  • Seawater

Funding Agency

  • Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences

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