CORROSION EXPERIENCE WITH ALUMINUM POWDER PRODUCTS

Extrusions of aluminum alloy powder products were obtained from several sources and evaluated for corrosion resistance to high-temperature (260-- 350 deg C) water. Several types of tubing impact-extruded by ALCOA were tested. The stronger tabing (M655) failed very rapidly. The weaker tubing suffered extensive localized surface attack and penetration of the corrosion attack along the extrusion direction after prolonged ( approximates 3 months) exposure to 290 deg C water. A precorrosion heat treatment was effective in reducing both types of attack on the weaker tubing. Armour Research Foundation supplied several types of tubing extraded through a bridge die. All tubes failed on prolonged ( approximates 8 months) corrosion in 290 deg C water at the longitudinal bond lines. These lines were formed by the rejoining of the metal streams passing over the mandrel supports in the die during extrusion. Directly extruded tubing supplied by the Torrance Brass Company also failed on extended exposure to 290 deg C water. Many experimental rod extrusions (from Armour Research Foundation and Trefimetaux) exhibited corrosion resistance to static 290 deg C water equivalent to that of wrought alloys. The Trefimetaux specimens were also tested in rapidly flowing water at 315 deg C. Under these conditions a corrosion rate significantly faster than for the wrought alloy was measured. (auth