Corrosion characterization of aluminium-6013 / red mud MMCs

Metal matrix composites are heterogeneous systems containing matrix and reinforcement. Their physical and mechanical properties can be tailored according to the requirement. Because of their increased corrosion resistance, they are used in automobile, aircraft and marine industries. In this research work static weight loss corrosion, open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization, stress corrosion and salt spray tests are conducted on aluminium 6013 / red mud metal matrix composites in different media. Aluminium 6013 alloy is the matrix and red mud is the reinforcement. Metal matrix composites are prepared by liquid melt metallurgy technique using vortex method. Matrix alloy is also casted in the same way for comparison. The results reveal that composites are less prone to corrosion than the matrix after the characterizing them with different corrosion tests. hence composite materials are more suitable than matrix material in different applications like aeronautical, automobile and marine engineering.