Significance of Zn Complex Concentration on Microstructure Evolution and Corrosion Behavior of Al/WS₂

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Corrosion Science and Engineering
• Nanocomposite Materials

Background:

• Corrosion is a destructive electrochemical process impacting material properties and lifespan.
• Aluminum-Tungsten Disulfide (Al/WS₂) composites are susceptible to environmental degradation.
• Novel reinforcement strategies are needed to enhance the corrosion resistance of existing composite materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a new reinforcement agent, ZnTerp-2TH.
• To prepare and characterize novel Al/WS₂/ZnTerp-2TH nanocomposites.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of ZnTerp-2TH in improving the corrosion resistance of Al/WS₂ composites.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of ZnTerp-2TH using NMR and mass spectrometry.
• Preparation of Al/WS₂ composites with varying wt.% of ZnTerp-2TH (5% and 10%).
• Comprehensive analysis including XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and electrochemical corrosion tests.

Main Results:

• ZnTerp-2TH was successfully synthesized and characterized.
• The crystal size of the composites decreased with ZnTerp-2TH addition (34 nm for Al/WS₂, 26 nm for 5% ZnTerp-2TH, 27 nm for 10% ZnTerp-2TH).
• Microstructural analysis revealed uniform distribution of ZnTerp-2TH, covering cracks and holes.
• Corrosion tests showed improved resistance with 10 wt.% ZnTerp-2TH addition, indicated by E_corr of -724 mV/decade and I_corr of 5 µA cm^-2.

Conclusions:

• ZnTerp-2TH acts as an effective reinforcing agent for Al/WS₂ composites.
• The addition of ZnTerp-2TH significantly enhances the corrosion resistance of the Al/WS₂ matrix.
• These novel nanocomposites offer a promising solution for mitigating corrosion in demanding applications.