Abstract
Galvanic corrosion induced by carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) coupled to a pure aluminum 1050 has been investigated by an electrochemical measurement. The galvanic current measurement was made between the 1050 specimen and the CFRP laminate connected through a zero resistance ammeter in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at room temperature for 7 days. The galvanic current flew from the CFRP to the 1050 specimen was about from 2500 to 3500 μA/cm2 for the experimental period. The weight loss of the 1050 specimen connected with the CFRP was 207 mg/cm2, while the weight loss of the 1050 specimen out of contact with the CFRP was practically zero after the galvanic current measurement. After 84 days of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the weight loss of the 1050 plates contacted directly with the CFRP prepreg was about 60 times that of the 1050 plates contacted with the 1050 specimen. These results indicate that the corrosion rate of the pure aluminum 1050 in NaCl solution is accelerated by contact with the CFRP.
