Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Activity Of Silicon Carbide Particles In Al-Based Metal Matrix Composites Revealed By Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy, David O. Wipf, L. Díaz-Ballote, L. Veleva, M. A. Pech-Canul, M. I. Pech-Canul

College of Arts and Sciences Publications and Scholarship

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is used to image variations in electrochemical activity over the surface of an aluminum-based metal matrix composite (MMC) in contact with buffered or unbuffered neutral solutions. The composite consists of an Al - 13.5% Si - 9% Mg alloy matrix and reinforcing silicon carbide particles (SiC_p). Feedback mode SECM imaging using ferrocenemethanol as a redox mediator in 0.1 M NaCl solution and in buffer solution (pH 6.8) revealed that the SiC particles are electrochemically active. The data suggest that the electronic conductivity at these sites is higher than that of the Al₂O …