Characterization at a local scale of a laser-shock peened aluminum alloy surface

The influence of a laser shock peening mechanical surface treatment on 2050-T8 aluminum alloy has been investigated, mostly using Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy. Volta potential difference maps around Al(CuFeMn) precipitates were performed before and after laser-shock peening to determine the influence of laser treatment versus galvanic coupling near precipitates, and resulting pit initiations. It has been shown that laser shock peening either preserves or reduces precipitate-matrix Volta potentials gradients, which in this later case, and correlated to recent corrosion electrochemical investigations, could explain corrosion improvement obtained after laser-shock peening treatments of aluminum alloys. The influence of crystal orientation and plastic deformation, and more specifically the effect of laser-induced compressive residual stresses or work-hardening, on the Volta potential values and on the pitting corrosion behavior was also addressed.