A review of corrosion and pitting resistance of al 6061 and 6013 silicon carbide composites in neutral salt solution and seawater

Al 6061 and 6013 reinforced with SiC represent an area of considerable interest because of their blend of attractive mechanical and physical properties compared to conventional products. Localized corrosion of the composites can offset the improvement in their mechanical properties and limit their application potential. The corrosion data on the composite Al 6013-SiC is limited and only recently reported for Al 6013-20 SiC. This paper is an overview of the investigations aimed at understanding the corrosion behavior and corrosion mechanism of the two composites. It is the first attempt to bring an in-depth understanding of the corrosion process involved in the two composites which would assist in creating a greater awareness of the application potential of the alloy in corrosive environment.