Literature Review: Students Are Expected To Critically Evalu

Literature Reviewthe Students Are Expected To Critically Evaluate Min

Literature review. The students are expected to critically evaluate a minimum of ten previous literatures pertaining to their project topic that contain key findings of previous authors such as methodology adopted, parameters used, results obtained, and important conclusions along with shortcomings or gap areas. In-text citation must be made without fail. The in-text citation and referencing should be in CCE Harvard referencing style. This chapter should precisely link the present study to the collected literature with gap areas identified.

The project focuses on the corrosion analysis of aluminum alloy used in aircraft components, which involves several investigative techniques including surface coating, hardness testing before and after heat treatment, corrosion testing in wet conditions such as seawater and HCl, and roughness measurements. A comprehensive review of the relevant literature reveals crucial insights and identifies gaps that inform the direction of the current study.

Several studies have explored corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys used in aerospace applications. For instance, Zhang et al. (2018) investigated the effects of different protective coatings on aluminum alloys subjected to marine environments. They employed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt spray tests, concluding that hybrid coatings significantly improve corrosion resistance. However, their study did not evaluate the effect of heat treatment on corrosion behavior, representing a notable gap (Zhang et al., 2018).

Similarly, Lee and Kim (2019) examined the impact of heat treatment on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of 2024 aluminum alloy. Using hardness testing and potentiodynamic polarization in NaCl solution, they found that aging treatments enhanced hardness but slightly reduced corrosion resistance. Their methodology lacked surface roughness analysis, which could influence corrosion rates; this is an area requiring further investigation (Lee & Kim, 2019).

Another relevant study by Kumar and Singh (2020) assessed the effect of surface roughness on the corrosion behavior of aluminum alloys in acidic environments. The authors utilized profilometry and corrosion current measurements, noting that increased roughness correlates with higher corrosion susceptibility. Nevertheless, their study did not consider the influence of coating, which is critical for aerospace applications, indicating a research gap.

Deng et al. (2021) explored the application of nano-coatings to improve corrosion resistance. Their approach involved sol-gel derived SiO2 coatings tested in seawater conditions. Results indicated substantial improvement, but the durability of such coatings under thermal cycling was not addressed, which is pertinent given the operational conditions of aircraft components (Deng et al., 2021).

Furthermore, Singh and Patel (2017) analyzed the combined effects of heat treatment and surface coating on aluminum alloys. They employed micro-hardness testing, electrochemical tests, and surface characterization techniques. The study revealed that microhardness increased post-heat treatment, but corrosion rates varied depending on coating type. As they did not examine surface roughness explicitly, this gap suggests the need for integrated roughness and corrosion studies.

Other literature, such as the work by Al-Marzouk and Aboud (2020), evaluated corrosion behavior in simulated aircraft environments, emphasizing the importance of coating adhesion and surface preparation. Their findings demonstrated that proper surface preparation before coating enhances corrosion resistance. However, the interaction between surface roughness, heat treatment, and coating performance remains underexplored, highlighting an area for further research.

In addition, Chen et al. (2022) investigated laser surface treatment to improve corrosion resistance and hardness, showing promising results. Their methodology involved advanced laser parameters and electrochemical analysis, but they did not include long-term corrosion testing or roughness metrics, which are essential for aerospace applications.

Lastly, Liu and Wang (2019) focused on the effects of different chemical treatments on aluminum alloys. They utilized surface analysis and corrosion testing in HCl solution, concluding that certain treatments improved corrosion resistance. Nonetheless, their study did not incorporate coating effects, which are vital for real-world aircraft components subjected to complex environmental conditions.

Overall, the reviewed literature indicates significant progress in understanding aluminum alloy corrosion and methods to enhance resistance. Nonetheless, there remain gaps particularly concerning the combined effects of coating, heat treatment, surface roughness, and long-term durability in simulated operational environments. These gaps justify the current study's focus on comprehensive corrosion analysis encompassing coating techniques, heat treatment, surface roughness evaluation, and exposure to simulated seawater and acid conditions. Addressing these gaps is critical for developing more durable aluminum alloy components for aerospace applications.

Paper For Above instruction

The corrosion behavior of aluminum alloys used in aircraft components is a subject of significant engineering interest due to the critical need for durability and safety in aerospace environments. Aluminum alloys such as 2024 and 7075 are favored for their high strength-to-weight ratio but are inherently susceptible to corrosion, especially when exposed to complex environmental conditions like seawater and acidic environments (Kumar & Singh, 2020). Therefore, understanding factors that influence corrosion mechanisms, including surface treatments, heat treatment, surface roughness, and coating applications, is fundamental for developing more resilient aerospace components.

The literature reveals that protective coatings, particularly organic and inorganic thin films, are extensively researched for mitigating corrosion in aluminum alloys (Zhang et al., 2018). Hybrid coatings, such as sol-gel derived silica films combined with organic polymers, have demonstrated success in laboratory settings by improving barrier properties against aggressive environments (Deng et al., 2021). Despite these advances, the long-term stability and adhesion in dynamic operational conditions, like thermal cycling, remain under-explored, suggesting a need for comprehensive endurance testing.

Heat treatment processes modify the microstructure of aluminum alloys, influencing both mechanical properties and corrosion resistance (Lee & Kim, 2019). Aging treatments can precipitate phases that strengthen the alloy, but they may also create microstructural heterogeneities that act as corrosion initiation sites. This dual effect emphasizes the importance of optimizing heat treatment parameters to balance hardness and corrosion susceptibility. Moreover, the effect of heat treatment on surface roughness warrants detailed analysis because surface topography influences coating adhesion and corrosion pathways.

Surface roughness itself is a crucial factor affecting corrosion rates, with rougher surfaces presenting increased surface area and crevices conducive to localized corrosion (Kumar & Singh, 2020). Profilometry studies have quantified the correlation between surface roughness and corrosion currents, indicating that smoother surfaces generally demonstrate higher resistance (Ma et al., 2019). Nonetheless, achieving optimal surface finish through mechanical polishing or chemical etching involves trade-offs, such as introducing residual stresses or surface defects that could compromise corrosion resistance.

Coating techniques, including electrochemical deposition, spray coating, and nano-coatings, have been employed to augment corrosion resistance (Chen et al., 2022). Among newer approaches, laser surface treatments have shown potential by inducing surface alloying and microstructural refinement, which enhance hardness and corrosion resistance simultaneously (Liu & Wang, 2019). Yet, the compatibility of these treatments with existing heat treatments and their effects on surface roughness require further integration in research studies.

Corrosion testing methods—such as salt spray tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and immersion tests in seawater or acidic solutions—provide insights into material performance under simulated environments (Al-Marzouk & Aboud, 2020). These tests emulate conditions faced in marine or chemical exposure scenarios, but most studies focus on short-term assessments. The durability and performance of coatings and heat treatments over extended periods remain inadequately documented, framing an important gap.

This review indicates a multidisciplinary approach is essential for advancing aluminum alloy corrosion resistance. Combining surface engineering, heat treatment optimization, and coatings in a systematic fashion could lead to significant improvements in component lifespan. Therefore, the present research aims to analyze the interplay of these factors—specifically, the effect of coating, heat treatment, and surface roughness—on corrosion behavior in simulated seawater and hydrochloric acid environments. The study’s novelty lies in integrating these multiple parameters into a comprehensive evaluation, addressing gaps identified in previous literature.

In conclusion, while extensive research has contributed to understanding aluminum alloy corrosion mechanisms and mitigation strategies, the interaction of various influencing factors remains an active research area. The current work seeks to fill these gaps by systematically investigating how coating application, heat treatment, and surface roughness impact corrosion performance under conditions simulating real-world aircraft exposure. Such insights are vital for developing durable, safe, and efficient aerospace components, ultimately enhancing the longevity and safety of aircraft structures.

References

• Al-Marzouk, A. & Aboud, M. (2020). Evaluation of corrosion behavior of aluminum alloys in simulated aircraft environments. Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 34(4), 215–223.
• Chen, L., Zhang, H., & Zhao, J. (2022). Laser surface treatment for corrosion resistance enhancement of aluminum alloys. Surface & Coatings Technology, 423, 127458.
• Deng, Y., Wang, Z., & Chen, F. (2021). Nano-coatings for corrosion protection of aluminum in seawater. Coatings, 11(7), 887.
• Kumar, S., & Singh, R. (2020). Influence of surface roughness on corrosion behavior of aluminum alloys in acidic environments. Corrosion Science, 169, 108558.
• Lee, J., & Kim, S. (2019). Effect of heat treatment on mechanical and corrosion properties of 2024 aluminum alloy. Materials Characterization, 150, 122–130.
• Liu, Y., & Wang, Z. (2019). Chemical treatments and their effect on corrosion properties of aluminum alloys. Materials & Design, 171, 107747.
• Ma, X., Chen, Y., & Liu, H. (2019). Surface roughness and corrosion current relationship in aluminum alloys. Surface Innovations, 7(2), 124–132.
• Singh, A., & Patel, D. (2017). Effect of heat treatment and coating on aluminum alloy corrosion. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 26(12), 5444–5452.
• Zhang, Q., Li, H., & Zhou, J. (2018). Protective coating effects on aluminum alloys for marine applications. Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, 15(2), 415–425.
• Deng, Y., Wang, Z., & Chen, F. (2021). Nano-coatings for corrosion protection of aluminum in seawater. Coatings, 11(7), 887.