Wear and corrosion of an additively-manufactured AlMgScZrMn alloy

Inadequate wear and corrosion resistance limit the use of the Sc-and Zr-modified Al-Mg alloys. In this study, X-ray diffraction was employed to determine the phases present in an AlMgScZrMn alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) at volumetric energy densities (VEDs) from 52 to 102 J/mm(3). Microstructural characterization was performed using a combination of electron backscattered diffraction analysis and optical microscopy. The corrosion resistance was determined using electrochemical measurements in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The hardness and the Young's modulus were determined from nanoindentation tests. The wear per-formance was determined against SiC balls. It was found that the sample fabricated with VEDs of 67 J/mm(3) exhibited the best wear resistance. Higher hardness and finer grain size help to improve the wear resistance of AlMgScZrMn alloys. The increase in large angle grain boundaries leads to higher corrosion susceptibility, resulting in faster corrosion rates. This work provides a basis to enhance the service stability of AlMgScZrMn alloys.