Effects of Dead Sea Water and Severe Plastic Deformation on the Microhardness and Corrosion Resistance of Copper-Alloyed Aluminum
Abstract
Due to its weight, aluminum is frequently used in a variety of technical applications. Copper was added to aluminum at varying percentages namely, 2%, 4%, and 6% to improve its mechanical properties and resistance to corrosion. Following copper additions and the upsetting process, microhardness is examined. Additionally, research was done on the effect of dead sea water on corrosion resistance and microhardness. It was found that microhardness increased as the copper percentage increased in the as-cast process. A noticeable improvement in microhardness was achieved after the upsetting process, whereas a decrease in microhardness occurred after insertion in dead sea water. Furthermore, microhardness rises as copper content increases. For example, a 2% Cu addition results in a 32% hardness enhancement, a 4% Cu addition results in a 160% hardness enhancement, and a 6% Cu addition yields the most improvement, or about 242.7%, this has resulted in corrosion resistance enhancement.