Microstructure and stability of copper-aluminium alloys

Especially the maritime sector and chemical industry, where materials with regard to their mechanico-technological properties and utilization properties are highly demanded,Copper-aluminium alloys have proved efficient because both of their excellent corrosive resistance in a large number of aggressive media and exceptionally good mechanical and physical properties. This is why they take a particular position amongst copper-based materials. Copper-aluminium alloys with 4.0 to 9.9 wt.-% of aluminium usually exhibit a single-phase microstructure,. These alloys consisting of the homogeneous a phase are rather destined for functional uses (condensers, heat exchangers, etc.). Alloys which contain about 8 to 14 wt.-% of Aluminium and additional elements such as iron, nickel, and manganese to improve certain properties, constitute the group of multiphase alloys, i.e. "multi-component alloys". This vast option of modelling the micro-structure is also the key to appropriately adapt this material to the respective load by corrosion. The present article specifically deals with the interaction between the microstructue and corrosion resistance.