Effect of Solution Treatment on Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Al6061-Ti3C2Tx Composites

LIU Zhibin; HU Wenjie; YAN Hong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.02.010

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (2) : 101-109. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.02.010

Composites Forming

Effect of Solution Treatment on Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Al6061-Ti₃C₂T_x Composites

LIU Zhibin^1,2, HU Wenjie², YAN Hong^2,*

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Abstract

The work aims to study the microstructure, immersion corrosion and electrochemical corrosion properties of Al6061-2 wt.% Ti₃C₂T_x composites at different solution treatment temperature. The composites were fabricated by vacuum induction melting, and the microstructure and corrosion morphology of the samples were analyzed by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and three-dimensional profiler. In addition, dynamic potential polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectra were measured with an electrochemical workstation, and their trend patterns were analyzed. The results showed that the corrosion potential of the composites showed a positive and then negative trend with the increase of solution temperature. Specimens subject to solution treatment at 540 ℃ exhibited optimal corrosion resistance, with a corrosion potential shifted positively by 43 mV compared with untreated specimens and had the lowest corrosion current density (2.18 μA/cm²). Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis indicates that solution treatment significantly improved the charge transfer resistance of the composites. After solution treatment at 540 ℃, the charge transfer resistance R_ct reached 15 024 Ω·cm², which was about 2.4 times higher than that of the as-cast specimens. The diffusion coefficient of the Mg₂Si phases in the composites after solution treatment at 540 ℃ significantly increased, accelerating the dissolution of these phases into the matrix, which enhanced the corrosion resistance of the composites.

Key words

6061-Ti₃C₂T_x composites / vacuum induction melting / solution treatment / microstructure / corrosion resistance.

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LIU Zhibin, HU Wenjie, YAN Hong. Effect of Solution Treatment on Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Al6061-Ti₃C₂T_x Composites[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(2): 101-109 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.02.010

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Funding

Science and Technology Projects of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education (GJJ2505204); National Natural Science Foundation of China (51965040); Science and Technology Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Transportation (2022H0048)