MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. The Moscow Polytechnic University's specialists plan to introduce a new class of aluminum alloys with multifunctional protective coatings to be used in equipment operating in Arctic conditions by the end of 2026, the university's press service said.
"The development continues under a grant from the Russian Science Foundation and should offer to shipbuilding and Arctic infrastructure a lighter and corrosion-resistant alternative to existing materials. The research is funded under the Russian Science Foundation's presidential research projects program <...>. The work has been planned for the period from 2023 to 2026," the press service said.
The research focuses on alloys of the aluminum-magnesium-calcium-manganese system. They are supposed to replace the regular industrial alloys. The new alloys will not be inferior to them either in terms of manufacturability or corrosion resistance, however, due to the composition, they will have lower density.
The introduction of calcium into the aluminum alloys composition leads to formation of dispersed eutectic in the structure - this simultaneously improves strength, casting properties and corrosion resistance, the project's leader Professor Andrey Aksenov said. The addition of manganese and magnesium balances the composition to obtain a deformable material that is suitable for production on mass industrial equipment.
"The Arctic places demands on materials at a fundamentally different level than is applicable for materials used in temperate latitudes. The low temperatures, high humidity, salt water, mechanical stress from ice - in such conditions, regular materials break down much faster. That is why we are working in two directions at a time: we are creating a new alloy with improved basic specifications, and additionally we are protecting its surface with a ceramic-like coating," the professor said.
To date, the researchers have selected optimal compositions for the new alloys, studied their structure and mechanical properties, determined the modes of applying protective coatings, and tested their resistance to corrosion and wear. The work continues in cooperation with the aluminum industry enterprises. The new alloys are intended primarily for drifting scientific stations, stationary weather stations, Arctic platforms, icebreakers, cargo and military vessels - as a material for deck structures and for products operating in contact with water.