Electrochemical and surface characterization of the corrosion of 6061 aluminum alloy and its composite with SiC in hydrochloric acid solutions

This article investigates the corrosion rates of 6061 aluminum alloy and 6061 Al-10(vol%) SiC_(p) composite (6061 Al-CM) by electrochemical techniques like potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance for five different HCl concentrations (0.01 M, 0.025 M, 0.05 M, 0.1 M, 0.25 M) and at five different temperatures (303 K, 308 K, 313 K, 318 K, 323 K). Kinetic parameters were determined using Arrhenius rate and transition state equations. The surface morphology was studied using a scanning electron microscope. Elemental mapping was done using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and the surface roughness was obtained from an atomic force microscope. The results showed that the corrosion rate was greater for 6061 Al-CM compared to aluminum alloy 6061 at all studied acid concentrations and at all temperatures. Surface morphology studies confirmed the active dissolution of composite and 6061 aluminum alloy in the presence of acid.