Prediction model for atmospheric corrosion of 7005-T4 aluminum alloy in industrial and marine environments

Accelerated corrosion tests of the 7005-T4 aluminum alloy were conducted to determine a suitable service life prediction method by using alternating wet-dry cycles in three kinds of solutions. The morphology and composition analysis of the corrosion product revealed that slight corrosion occurred on the surfaces of the samples immersed in a 0.25wt% Na₂S₂O₈ solution. However, pitting corrosion occurred on the surfaces of the samples immersed in a 3.5wt% NaCl solution, whereas exfoliation corrosion occurred on the surfaces of the samples immersed in a mixture of 0.25wt% Na₂S₂O₈ and 3.5wt% NaCl solutions. A power exponent relationship was observed between the mass loss and exposure time of the 7005-T4 aluminum alloy immersed in the three kinds of solutions. In the mixture of 0.25wt% Na₂S₂O₈ and 3.5wt% NaCl solutions, the mass loss of the aluminum alloy yielded the maximum value. Based on the calculation of the correlation coefficients, the alternating wet-dry procedure in a 3.5wt% NaCl solution could be used to predict the corrosion behavior of 7005-T4 aluminum alloy exposed in the atmosphere of Qingdao, China. The prediction model is as follows:T=104.28·t^0.91, where T is the equivalent time and t is the exposure time.