Aluminium alloys reinforced with ceramic oxides, carbides, nitrides and mineral silicate particulates are particularly known for their attractive characteristics. This work consists of the evaluation of corrosion behavior of Al 6061 matrix alloy reinforced with pretreated TiO2, TiN, TiC and TiB2 particulates. The electrochemical techniques employed in the studies include Open Circuit Potential measurements (OCP), Tafel polarization, and cyclic polarization and Impedance (EIS) studies. The samples were characterized by XRD and EDX analysis. The surface morphology of the samples, before and after corrosion studies, was observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The corrosion behavior of reinforced Al6061 composites was studied in acidic and salt media. A comparison of the results from all the media indicates that the relative degree of corrosion in different ionic species follows the order Cl > NO3 > SO42. The corrosion resistance of the particulate reinforced composites is found to increase with increase in electrical resistivity and wettability of the reinforcements TiO2,TiN, TiC and TiB2.

Dr Ananda Murthy H C has been a sincere, committed and dedicated faculty member at various prestigious universities of India and Tanzania for the last 17 years. He is currently working as Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, The University of Dodoma, Tanzania, East Africa. His research interest is electrochemical corrosion of Al-composites.