Stress corrosion cracking behaviour of 2091 Al—Li alloy in sulphate and chloride containing solutions

Abstract

The stress corrosion cracking resistance of 2091 Al—Li alloy in underaged, and in peak aged condition was investigated in chloride solutions with or without sulphate addition using both the static load technique and the slow strain rate technique. It is shown that the underaged material is more resistant than peak aged material. Sulphate additions to chloride solutions increase the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility. Metallographic cross-section observations show the simultaneous occurrence of other kinds of corrosion: generalised. corrosion, pitting corrosion, intergranular corrosion, and exfoliation corrosion. It appears that stress corrosion cracking susceptibility increases as the extent of intergranular corrosion decreases.