Application of Ultrasonic Vibration on Preferential Removal of Al-Fe-Si Intermetallic Compound Phases from 1100 Aluminum Wrought Alloy

We have shown that the Al-Fe-Si intermetallic compound particles exposed on 1100 aluminum wrought alloy (industrially pure aluminum alloy) are preferentially and selectively removed by two steps: the first step is selective dissolution of aluminum component in the Al-Fe-Si intermetallic compound by electrochemical reaction. The second step is intensive removal of the iron-enriched intermetallic particles on which vigorous hydrogen bubbling has been took place, which is accelerated by application of ultrasonic vibration. It is found that the intermetallic compound-free surface obtained by the proposed technique is preferable for the surface treatment such as Ni-P electroless plating.