Evaluation the Effect of Strain on Mechanical Behavior and Electrochemical Corrosion Properties of Al-2024 Alloy after Two-Step Aging and Thermomechanical Treatments

In this study, the effect of strainin thermomechanical two-step aging heat treatment on mechanical properties and electrochemical corrosion resistance of Al-2024 alloy has been investigated. These results were compared with normal aging T6. For this research, samples of Al-2024 alloys were placed at ambient temperature during normal aging under different percentages of strain, and then aging treatment was completed. Four strains of 10%, 30%, 50% and 65% were applied on the samples by rolling machine. The results of tensile test with low strain rate, potentiodynamic polarization curves and optical microscopy indicated that the sample with 50% strain offered optimum combination of microstructure, mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. This is due to the fine and uniform distribution of precipitates that cause increasing of yield strength, tensile strength and corrosion resistance by 27%, 10%, and 83%, respectively, in comparison with T6 heat treated[MP2D1] . Therefore applying strain of 50%, can increase the corrosion resistance with maintaining high strength in two-step aging and thermomechanical heat treatments.