Abstract
The purpose of this research is (1) to investigate the influence of Al~2~Cu intermetallic particles associated with the dendritic arm spacing on the corrosion resistance of different hypoeutectic Al‐Cu alloys and (2) to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of a hypoeutectic Al‐Cu alloy directionally solidified under unsteady‐state heat flow. The as‐cast samples were produced using vacuum arc remelting and vertical upward water‐cooled solidification. Microscopic examinations were carried out with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy + energy dispersiveX‐ray analyses. To evaluate the surface corrosion behavior of such alloys, all corrosion tests were performed in a 0.5‐M NaCl solution at 25°C using an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique and potentiodynamic polarization curve analysis. Based on the tests, corrosion rate and impedance parameters were obtained. The present research has underlined the use of appropriate techniques of characterization for determining Al~2~Cu distribution, morphology, and fraction within the typical microstructures of Al‐Cu alloys. The experimental results have established correlations between the Al‐rich phase dendritic arm size, the intermetallic particles distribution in the eutectic mixture, the macrosegregation profile, and the resulting corrosion resistance. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.