Effect of pressurized steam on AA1050 aluminium

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to understand the effect of pressurized steam on surface changes, structures of intermetallic particles and corrosion behavior of AA1050 aluminium. Design/methodology/approach - Industrially pure aluminium (AA1050, 99.5 per cent) surfaces were exposed to pressurized steam produced from a commercial pressure cooker at the maximum temperature of 116oC for 10?min.

Surface morphology was observed using SEM-EDX and FIB-SEM. Phase identification and compositional depth profiling were investigated using XRD and GDOES, respectively. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements were used to study corrosion behavior. Findings - A 590?nm boehmite oxide layer was generated on AA1050 associated with partially dissolved and/or fallen off Fe-containing intermetallic particles after exposure to pressurized steam.

A significant reduction (25 times) in anodic and cathodic reactivities was observed due to the formation of the compact oxide layer. Originality/value - This paper reveals a detailed investigation of how pressurized steam can affect the corrosion behaviour of AA1050 aluminium and the structure of Fe-containing intermetallic particles.