Investigation on laser beam remelted Al-Cu-Li alloy part II: Corrosion behavior and mechanical properties

•The equiaxed zone shows the highest sensitivity to localized corrosion.•Aging treatment decreases the corrosion resistance of the fusion zone.•The weld transforms from intergranular corrosion to pitting corrosion after aging.•Aging strengthens the fusion zone but lowers its ductility. The present work analyzed the effect of aging on the corrosion and mechanical properties of laser beam remelted 2A97 Al-Cu-Li alloy. Electrochemical measurements and immersion tests were performed to study the corrosion behavior. Tensile and microhardness tests were used to investigate the strength, ductility, and hardness of the specimens. We found that the corrosion degree declines dramatically from the edge to center of the fusion zone, and the EQZ is most sensitive to localized corrosion. The corrosion resistance of the fusion zone is lowered by aging treatment. Moreover, the dominant corrosion feature transforms from intergranular corrosion to pitting corrosion by 175 °C of aging. The strength and hardness increase with aging temperature while the ductility declines distinctly. Our work can provide an in-depth understanding of the effect of aging on the corrosion and mechanical behaviors of laser beam remelted Al-Cu-Li alloys.