Investigations on the texture and corrosion characteristics of AA5083 alloy reinforced with CeO₂ by friction stir processing

AA5083 alloy exhibits favorable resistance to corrosion and welding characteristics, making it attractive for application in the marine environment. However, pitting and intergranular corrosion of AA5083 is still troublesome. This study investigates the corrosion resistance and texture evolution of friction stir processed AA5083 alloy with Cerium Oxide (CeO₂) as reinforcement. The FSP trials were performed by varying the process parameters: tool rotation speed (TRS), tool traverse speed (TTS), and a constant shoulder diameter (SD). The fabricated surface composite (FSC) specimens were subjected to microstructure, microhardness, intergranular corrosion, and electrochemical corrosion analysis. The specimens were subjected to advanced analytical instruments such as TEM, EBSD, and XRD to study the microstructure and texture evolution. The results showed that the corrosion of AA5083 alloy in the saline environment is highly suppressed by reinforcing it with cerium oxide (CeO₂) using friction stir processing, as it acted as a good corrosion inhibitor.