Increasing the corrosion resistance of metal alloys by affecting dislocations during electrical pulse treatment

In this paper, we study the effect of electric pulse treatment on the dynamics of dislocations in metallic materials under conditions of increased corrosion resistance. High-frequency current treatment causes rapid localized heating, creating temperature gradients and mechanical stresses that alter the dislocation structure. During the experiments, two industrial alloys were studied: aluminum alloy, which is susceptible to pitting, and austenitic stainless steel, which is prone to intercrystalline corrosion. The results show that electric pulse treatment significantly reduces the density of dislocations and promotes their clustering, which reduces stress concentration and increases the uniformity of the microstructure. At the same time, the formation of a stable oxide layer, accelerated by thermal activation, improves passivation and electrochemical stability in aggressive environments. The research highlights the potential of electric pulse processing as a dual-purpose method for optimizing both the mechanical integrity and corrosion characteristics of structural alloys, which is promising for the aerospace, marine, and energy industries, where durability in harsh environments is crucial. High-frequency currents can also be used to study the physical foundations of the electroplastic effect and to heal microcracks in metals and alloys.