Thermodynamic evaluation of the aerial and aqueous oxidation of Al – Mg, Al – Si and Al – Mg – Si system alloys at 298 K

Abstract

Aluminum and magnesium are the lightest structural metals, and therefore, various alloys based on them are widely used in both, automotive and aerospace industries. However, aluminum and magnesium are very easily affected by atmospheric and aqueous corrosion, and, therefore, the alloying elements should enhance their corrosion stability. In this work, the thermodynamic analysis of phase and chemical equilibria involving aluminum and magnesium alloys doped with silicon in oxygen–containing air environments, as well as the analysis of chemical and electrochemical equilibria involving these alloys in aqueous environments is conducted. The phase and chemical equiliibria in the Al–Mg, Al–Si, Mg–Si, and Al–Mg–Si systems at 298 K are considered, and the thermodynamic activities of the components of common Al–Mg–Si system alloys are calculated. The invariant chemical equilibria in the systems Al–Mg–O, Al–Si–O, Mg–Si–O at 298 K are considered, the isothermal section of the state diagrams of these systems are plotted, and the oxidation scheme of the Al–Mg–Si system alloys in excess oxygen is proposed. The chemical and electrochemical equilibria in the Al–Mg–Si–H2O system at 298 K are considered and presented in form of the activity – pH and the potential – pH diagrams, and the oxidation of the Al–Mg–Si system alloys in aqueous environments is discussed.