Environmental Effects on Surface Integrity of Recycled Al-Alloys in Heavy-Duty Vehicles (ESRAL)

Purpose and goal

The overall objective is to contribute to development of future components with a low carbon footprint through advanced material research to ensure the material´s surface integrity. By using Sweden´s large-scale research facility such as synchrotron-based X-ray techniques, in combination with electrochemical analyzes and material characterization, the project will provide unique material data and new analysis methods, with the aim of achieving a fundamental understanding of corrosion initiation.

Expected effects and result

Understand the effect of microstructure and composition, especially Cu and Fe, on the initiation of micro-galvanic corrosion in the primary and secondary Al alloys for electrification of heavy-duty vehicles. Mapping influence of the oxide films formed on the cast skin and machined surface of the Al alloys with IMPs on the corrosion resistance and initiation of localized corrosion. Identify critical environmental factors, e.g., pH, Cl- and temperature, which affect the corrosion initiation.

Planned approach and implementation

A full-time PhD student will work in the project with following plan: Literature study Experiments at Scania, KTH and MAX IV: • Accelerated laboratory and field corrosion testing • Electrochemical measurements • Microscopic study of the surface chemistry and corrosion initiation • Ambient pressure XPS (APXPS) measurement • In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fluorescence (XRF) and Hard X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy/microscopy Write scientific papers and PhD thesis