Study of the tribocorrosion behavior of aluminum alloy 7075 - T651 nitrided

Abstract

The 7075 aluminum alloy in T651 condition is formed by a solid solution heat-treated and artificial aged, followed by stretching for stresses relief. This alloy presents properties that make it interesting to applications subject to high stress, such as aeronautical components. However, it has low surface properties of hardness, wear resistance and chemical stability The plasma nitriding is an alternative method of raising the surface hardness, fatigue resistance, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of alloys, improving the performance of the materials. This work aims to study the tribocorrosion behavior of the 7075-T651 aluminu m alloy (AA7075-T651) plasma nitrited. It will be evaluated properties like wear resistance and corrosion resistance of nitrided alloy compared to untreated alloy. It will be used AA7075 - T651 alloy cylindrical pellets without treatment and plasma nitrided in a chamber for nitriding in the Laboratory of Plasma and Processes of the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA). The tribocorrosion tests of the AA7075-T651 sample with and without plasma nitriding treatment will be conducted at Department of Mechanical Engineering of University of Minho - Azurém Campus (Guimarães - Portugal).