EIS Study on Pitting Corrosion of AA5083-H321 Aluminum-Magnesium Alloy in Stagnant 3.5% NaCl Solution

In this research, EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) technique was utilized to study the pitting corrosion behaviour of AA5083-H321 aluminum-magnesium alloy in 3.5% NaCI solution. Impedance spectra were obtained during 240 h of exposure of the sample to the test solution. The surface and cross-section of the samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDAX (energy dispersive analysis of X-ray) analysis. The results indicated that as the resistance of the passive layer on intermetallic particles is very small, this parameter on the sample surface layers is controlled by that of pure passive layer. However,the capacitors in the proposed equivalent circuit are replaced with the constant phase elements (CPE), due to non-uniformity and occurrence of pitting corrosion on the surface. The outward diffusion of Al 3 ions through the passive layer and the thickening of this layer cause the impedance decrease in the first 24 h and increase afterwards. The detachment of intermetallic particles from some of pits and the accumulation of the corrosion products inside some others are factors that prevents the continuation of cathodic reactions on the top of the intermetallic particles.