Nanoscale Surface Chemistry of Intermetallic Inclusions at Aluminum Alloy Surfaces

摘要

This grant has as its overall objective to understand and manipulate the chemistry at intermetallic particles (IP's) at Al alloy surfaces. The purpose is to control corrosion of alloys that contain such particles. This long range goal is being addressed through four major tasks. These are: 1) use scanning electrochemical microscopy and other imaging techniques to investigate the local cathodic and anodic reactivity of intermetallic inclusions at the alloy surface, 2) investigate dioxygen reduction at the intermetallic inclusions and how to control it, 3) study the use of strongly adsorbing species to poison the reduction of dioxygen at the surfaces of intermetallic particles, and 4) examine the mechanism by which conducting polymers influence the open circuit behavior of these alloys, also with a mind to decreasing the tendency for dioxygen reduction at the intermetallic particles.