The effect of age-hardening on microstructure, hardness, and corrosion of an Al-5at.%V alloy, produced using high-energy ball milling and subsequent cold compaction, has been investigated. The alloy exhibited a grain size below 100 nm and extremely high solid solubility of V in Al (3.1 at.%). The age-hardening was carried out at 150, 200, and 250 °C. The peak-aged condition of 150 °C demonstrated the highest hardness—transpired from grain refinement, precipitation, and solid solution hardening. The corrosion resistance of the Al-5at.%V alloy was studied as a function of aging conditions. The peak-aged condition retained the corrosion resistance while it deteriorated in the over-aged condition. Nonetheless, the corrosion resistance of the ball-milled Al alloys in all the aging conditions was superior to that of pure Al. The passive film structure and origin of corrosion were studied using scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM). The high corrosion resistance of the alloy was attributed to the V enrichment at the film/metal interface and deposition of V on the cathodic phases, which suppresses the dissolution of Al within the pit and therefore promotes repassivation in the early stages of corrosion.

已经研究了时效硬化对使用高能球磨和随后的冷压制生产的 Al-5at.%V 合金的微观结构、硬度和腐蚀的影响。该合金表现出低于 100 nm 的晶粒尺寸和极高的 V 在 Al 中的固溶度 (3.1 at.%)。时效硬化在 150、200 和 250 °C 下进行。150 °C 的峰值时效条件表现出最高的硬度——由晶粒细化、沉淀和固溶硬化引起。研究了 Al-5at.%V 合金的耐腐蚀性与时效条件的关系。峰值老化条件保持耐腐蚀性，而在过度老化条件下恶化。尽管如此，球磨铝合金在所有时效条件下的耐腐蚀性都优于纯铝。使用扫描/透射电子显微镜 (S/TEM) 研究钝化膜结构和腐蚀来源。合金的高耐腐蚀性归因于薄膜/金属界面处的V富集和V在阴极相上的沉积，这抑制了Al在凹坑内的溶解，因此促进了腐蚀早期的再钝化。