Laminar corrosion defects, such as intergranular penetrations and stress corrosion cracks, are common in ageing aircraft. These defects are most commonly found in extruded and rolled sections made from high strength aluminium alloys; typical examples include wing and tailplane spar caps in widespread use in ageing aircraft. They present a significant problem in that the assessment of their sign...

The presence of H2O vapour in an oxidizing environment can increase the critical aluminium concentration, NAl ∗ , required to establish a passivating Al2O3 scale in multicomponent alumina-forming alloys. This work used AlxFeyNi1-x-y composition spread alloy film combinatorial libraries to determine NAl ∗ (x, y) continuously across AlxFeyNi1-x-y composition space (x = 0 → 1, y = 0 → [1-x]) in a ...

The influence exerted by some anionic surfactants towards the corrosion process of an Agcontaining aluminium alloy (AA2139) is studied during 168 h immersion in 0.01 M NaCl solution. This behaviour is compared with that previously determined on a Li-containing alloy (AA2198). The surfactants, at a proper concentration, hinder anodic and cathodic reactions as well as the pitting process, but the...

During high-temperature ball-on-disc tests of aluminium against steel, hot aluminium deformsand wear track evolves. The individual contributions of ploughing and shearing to theapparent friction and the contact pressure are unknown. The aim of this chapter was todevelop a model capable of determining these parameters. It was found that during high-temperature ball-on-disc tests,...

A novel experimental technique, using specially designed electrodes (with machined annular and circular pits, and central cavities), was developed to simulate the effects of pitting morphology of the electrode tip face on weld nugget size and joint strength in resistance spot welding of aluminium alloys. Results of the experimental simulations indicate that the distribution of electrode contact...

J. Piątkowski, B. Gajdzik, The Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Katowice, Poland The paper presents enthalpy of melting and solidifi cation of casting aluminium alloys AlSi6, AlSi12 and AlSi18 during heating and cooling. Calorimetric measurements preceded by tests of thermal analysis ATD were conducted on high-temperature scanning calorimeter multi...

The development of materials which contain the noble metals for use in high temperature strain gauges is reviewed, with particular emphasis being placed upon work done by the Institute of Precious Metals, in China. Three alloy systems displaying excellent resistance to oxidation and good overall properties when used in high temperature straingauges, are singled out for examination. These are pl...