Formation and structure of a subsurface layer in hot rolled aluminium alloy AA3104 transfer bar

As a basis for extended studies into the evolution, structure and corrosion properties of the subsurface layers in hot rolled aluminium alloys, the evolution of the subsurface layers in industrially rolled AA3104 transfer bar has been simulated in a laboratory mill. Test samples taken from the centre of industrially rolled AA3104 transfer bar were highly polished, reheated and homogenised under carefully determined conditions and rolled in the two-high Robertson mill at the University of Sheffield. The stock surfaces and subsurface layers in industrially rolled and laboratory rolled material were then characterised using a combination of optical microscopy, quantification of stock surface morphology, glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES), focussed ion beam (FIB) microscopy and filiform corrosion testing. The results from the experimental programme have demonstrated that the near-surface metallic element distributions, the microstructures and depths of the subsurface layers and the filiform corrosion susceptibility of the rolled surfaces in the industrially rolled and laboratory rolled materials were all very similar.