OBSERVATION OF MICROSTRUCTURE AND CORROSION BEHAVIOUR OF SOME ALUMINIUM BRONZES.

The short term corrosion behavior of four as-cast commercial aluminum bronzes has been examined by immersing the materials in artificial sea water. The phase which underwent selective attack were martensitic beta in the aluminum bronze AB1; martensitic beta and lamellar eutectoidal fcc alpha phase in nickel aluminum bronze; the chp gamma phase present both as a lamellar and matrix constituent in silicon aluminum bronze; and the ordered beta phase and the fcc dendritic phase, rich in iron and manganese, and copper manganese aluminum bronze. The rates of corrosion were influenced by volume fractions, morphologies, and distributions.