Evaluation of the corrosion properties of aluminum alloy 5083 weldments

Susceptibility of the weldment to exfoliation corrosion was evaluated by the Ammonium Salt Solution Exfoliation Test (ASSET). The samples exfoliated in the base metal, but did not exfoliate in the weld metal or the HAZ. The ASSET demonstrates that electron-beam welding the aluminum alloy 5083 reduces the susceptibility to exfoliation corrosion in the HAZ. Two other samples were tested for susceptibility to intergranular corrosion by the Nitric Acid Weight Loss Test (NAWLT). The average weight loss was 167 mg/in./sup 2/ and the loss was associated with the attack that occurred in the base metal. The weld metal and HAZ were essentially unattacked.