The effect of corrosion inhibiting pigments on environmentally assisted cracking of high strength aluminum alloy

Abstract The effects of some corrosion inhibiting pigments on environmentally assisted cracking of 7075-T76 aluminum alloy were examined in 3.5% NaCl (pH=6.2) solution. In order to study the inhibition mechanism of these pigments in environmentally assisted cracking of aluminum alloy, electrochemical polarization tests were carried out in 3.5% NaCl (pH=6.2 and 3) and 0.1 M HCl solutions respectively with the presence and absence of these pigments. The results showed that the effects of the pigments on environmentally assisted cracking of aluminum alloy were exhibited mainly at crack initiation and the early stage of crack propagation. A nontoxic compound, composed of phosphate, molybdate, citrate, and thiazole/imidazole derivatives, was a promising pigment to inhibit environmentally assisted cracking of the alloy.