Galvanic Corrosion Characteristics of Aluminum Alloyed with Group IV Metals

Abstract

The electrochemical behavior of aluminum alloyed with selected Group IV elements has been investigated in 0.1N sodium chloride solution. Of the group IV elements studied only tin had a major effect on aluminum; Al‐Sn alloys carried surface oxide films of very low ionic resistance, exhibited potentials more active than −1.0v on the hydrogen scale and gave very large galvanic currents when coupled to mild steel cathodes. The conditions permitting entry of a group IV alloying addition from the metal into the surface oxide film have been partly clarified.