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THE EFFECT OF THREE TYPES OF HEAT TREATMENT ON THE HARDNESS AND CORROSION RESISTANCE OF Al 2014 ALLOY
  • Ansari Shadab Azhar Nazeer iqbal,
  • Naveed Husain H,
  • M. Abdur Rahman
Ansari Shadab Azhar Nazeer iqbal
Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi Technical Campus
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Naveed Husain H
Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi Technical Campus
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M. Abdur Rahman
B S Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Al 2014 is a high-strength aluminum alloy widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries for its mechanical robustness. This study investigates the impact of three heat treatment processes—Retrogression and Re-aging (RRA), T6 standard aging, and a modified RRA with high-temperature pre-aging—on the hardness and corrosion resistance of Al 2014. Potentiodynamic electrochemical polarization studies in a 3.5 wt% sodium chloride solution assessed corrosion resistance, revealing that heat treatment, which induces precipitation hardening, shifted the corrosion potential (E) toward the noble direction. The formation of Al2Cu precipitates is linked to enhanced corrosion resistance. Furthermore, T6-treated samples exhibited a higher corrosion current density compared to untreated Al 2014 alloy samples, suggesting superior corrosion resistance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of corroded surfaces showed evidence of general and pitting corrosion, with distinct patterns among the three heat treatment processes. Comparative analysis revealed that the T6 standard aging process offered the best hardness and corrosion resistance, likely due to stable precipitate formation during aging. RRA also delivered good performance, suggesting it is a viable alternative where a balance between hardness and toughness is needed. The modified RRA with high-temperature pre-aging yielded lower performance, likely due to overaging, reducing hardness and corrosion resistance. These findings underscore the importance of heat treatment in enhancing the corrosion resistance of Al 2014 alloy, suggesting that specific processes can improve the alloy’s durability in corrosive environments, leading to extended lifespan and reduced maintenance costs.
Submitted to Applied Research
Submission Checks Completed
Assigned to Editor
Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Jul 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
04 Aug 20241st Revision Received
06 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
06 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
06 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Accept