FURI | Fall 2019

X-Ray Tomography Analysis Correlating Pit Growth and Rolling Conditions in a High-Performance Aluminum Alloy

Aluminum alloys are commonly used for engineering applications due to their high strength to weight ratio and low cost. However, saltwater environments shorten parts’ longevity by causing pitting corrosion. X-ray microtomography is leveraged to non-destructively observe pit growth in three dimensions over a 20-day corrosion period. Previous work in the group has correlated the growth of pits over time with the structure of contaminant inclusions near the surface. The extent of cold rolling and specimen orientation relative to the rolling direction are varied, and the number and depth of pits over 20 days is quantified to determine the effects of resultant inclusion structures.