Athar Javed

Effect of pass deformation on microstructure, corrosion and electrochemical properties of aluminum alloy anodes for alkaline aluminum fuel cell applications

The effect of pass deformation in rolling processes on the microstructure, corrosion resistance and electrochemical activity of Al-Mg-Bi-Sn-Ga-In alloy anodes operated in an alkaline solution (85 °C, 5 mol·L−1 NaOH with addition of NaSnO3) with current density of 800 mA·cm−2 was investigated. To analyze the microstructure of aluminum alloy anodes, we used scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and electron backscatter diffraction techniques. We also used the hydrogen evolution method and electrochemical testing techniques to investigate the corrosion and electrochemical behavior of aluminum alloy anodes. The results showed that uniform microstructures with homogeneous distribution of fine active segregated phases as well as an excellent electrochemical performance of the aluminum alloy anodes were achieved by the dynamic recrystallization under pass deformation of 40%. We found that the aluminum alloy anodes (under pass deformation of 40%) had the lowest hydrogen evolution rate (0.092 mL·min−1·cm−2) and the most negative electrode potential (−1.585 V).