The purpose of this work was to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of an Al-4.5wt%Cu alloy solidified under unsteady-state heat flow conditions. This evaluation was carried out through the analysis of both potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests in a 0.5 M NaCl solution at 25ºC. The experimental segregation profile obtained in the solidification experiment was characterized by positive and negative copper content regions at the bottom and the top of the casting, respectively. Likewise, in conventional foundry practice, in a same casting both positive and negative copper segregation regions may occur. Such casting can exhibit different corrosion responses at different locations. The influences of solute redistribution during solidification, the magnitude of dendritic spacing and hence of the Al-rich phase and of Al2Cu particles distribution along the casting on the corrosion resistance, were examined in samples collected along the casting length. The corrosion rate and impedance parameters (obtained from an equivalent circuit analysis) are also discussed.
Positive and negative macrosegregation; Al-4.5wt% Cu Alloy; Al2Cu; corrosion resistance and electrochemical behavior
