A low-cost, low-density, and corrosion resistant AlFeMnSi compositionally complex alloy

S. P. O’Brien; J. Christudasjustus; L. Esteves; S. Vijayan; J. R. Jinschek; N. Birbilis; R. K. Gupta

doi:10.1038/s41529-021-00158-5

npj Materials Degradation (Mar 2021)

A low-cost, low-density, and corrosion resistant AlFeMnSi compositionally complex alloy

S. P. O’Brien,
J. Christudasjustus,
L. Esteves,
S. Vijayan,
J. R. Jinschek,
N. Birbilis,
R. K. Gupta

Affiliations

S. P. O’Brien: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University
J. Christudasjustus: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University
L. Esteves: Department of Chemical, Biomolecular and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron
S. Vijayan: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University
J. R. Jinschek: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University
N. Birbilis: College of Engineering & Computer Science, Australian National University
R. K. Gupta: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-021-00158-5
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract A compositionally complex alloy was designed, consisting of equiatomic concentrations of four low-cost commodity elements (Al, Fe, Mn, and Si). The alloy was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The corrosion of the AlFeMnSi alloy, as evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 0.6 M NaCl solution, was comparable with that of stainless steel (SS) 304L. Detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was carried out, including the determination of high-resolution spectra and surface sputtering. In addition, scanning transmission electron microscopy was also used to study the surface film(s) developed after constant immersion. The AlFeMnSi alloy exhibited a unique form of ‘passivity’ that arises from the development of a silicon-rich surface film from dynamic incongruent dissolution.

Published in npj Materials Degradation

ISSN: 2397-2106 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.nature.com/npjmatdeg/

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