Influence of Eco-Friendly Reinforcement Additives on Corrosion Behaviour of Al7050 and Its Welded Joints

Abstract

This study examines the corrosion behaviour of Al7050 and its friction stir welded (FSW) joints with different volume fractions (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%) of Multani Mitti and Cow Dung Ash (CDA) as eco-friendly reinforcement supplementary materials. Specimens were submerged in a 1M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution for 6 days, measuring weight loss every 48 hours to evaluate resistance to corrosion. It was found that welded joints always had greater corrosion rate than the base alloy in all compositions. In addition, it was observed that Multani Mitti and CDA addition owing to their lower corrosion rates increased corrosion resistance of base Al7050 alloy. The 6% additive combination provided the greatest protection; reducing material loss to 85% versus untreated alloy, which had 100% material loss. This study shows the capability of natural additives to enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys, especially for non-welded structures