Stress Corrosion Cracking and Grain-Scale Deformation Mechanisms of FSW Joint of 7A52 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

This paper investigates the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior under constant loading conditions and the early-stage grain-scale deformation mechanisms of a friction-stir-welded (FSW) joint of 7A52 aluminum alloy. The results show that when a constant load equivalent to 1.0 times the yield strength (439.43 MPa) of the base metal is applied, the joint fractures after 72 days of immersion in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, with the fracture located in the heat-affected zone on the advancing side (AS-HAZ). The fracture surface exhibits a mixed-mode morphology characterized by both brittle and ductile features. Observations suggest that cracks mainly initiate at the bottom of corrosion pits, at grain boundaries, and at the interfaces between precipitates (such as Mg-Si-rich, Al-Fe-rich, or Al-(FeMn)-rich) and the Al matrix. It is suggested that the initiation mechanisms are closely related to galvanic corrosion, interfacial weakening, and mechanical property mismatch. In situ tensile and EBSD results indicate that the AS-HAZ is the first region to undergo deformation. As the load increases from 400 N to 1500 N, the degree of strain localization intensifies, with high-strain regions preferentially concentrated at grain boundaries. Grain boundary damage is likely a key mechanism responsible for the initial failure on the advancing side of the FSW joint. Further in situ SEM observations reveal that during the early stage of tensile deformation, as the load increases from 300 N to 455 N, the grain surface in the AS-HAZ evolves from a flat morphology to a typical orange peel appearance. Meanwhile, grain boundaries change from clearly visible to blurred, slip traces increase, and multiple slip systems are activated within the grains. The continuous pile-up of dislocations at grain boundaries leads to a sharp increase in local stress concentration, ultimately inducing grain boundary instability and crack nucleation.