Effect of La Addition on Microstructure and Properties of Al-0.2Fe-0.06Cu Alloy

The increasing application of lithium-ion batteries has led to higher requirements being imposed on the performance of current collectors. In this work, the effect of La content on the microstructure and properties of Al-0.2Fe-0.06Cu alloy was invested through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and mechanical/electrical/electrochemical performance tests. Experimental results indicated that the addition of La was beneficial to grain refinement and promote the formation of La-containing compounds. However, excessive La addition weakened the refinement effect. Grain refinement played a major role in affecting the mechanical properties of the alloy, but had little effect on the conductivity. In comparison with Al-0.2Fe-0.06Cu, the La-containing alloys had lower corrosion potential, which indicated that the addition of La element could improve the corrosion resistance of the Al-0.2Fe-0.06Cu alloy. The addition of La improved the mechanical properties of the alloy at room temperature and 50 degrees C. When the La addition was 0.1wt.%, the alloy had the best mechanical properties. The corrosion resistance of the alloy continued to improve with increases in the La content.