Hydrolytic Hydrogen Production on Al–Sn–Zn Alloys Processed by High-Pressure Torsion

Abstract

Aluminium-tin-based alloys with different compositions were synthesized by a high-pressure torsion (HPT) method. The effect of different alloying elements and processing routes on the hydrogen generation performance of the alloys was investigated. The results show that Zn can enhance the hydrogen generation rate and yield by promoting pitting corrosion. The highest reactivity in water was achieved for an Al-30wt %Sn-10wt %Zn alloy. Detailed analysis of the Al-30wt %Sn-10wt %Zn alloy shows that increasing the shear strain and the resultant formation of ultrafine grains and phase mixing enhance the hydrogen generation rate through the effects of both nanogalvanic cells and pitting corrosion.

Keywords

• hydrogen production
• ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure
• high-pressure torsion (HPT)
• severe plastic deformation (SPD)
• hydrolysis