Abstract: Cavitation erosion behavior of as-welded Cu12Mn8Al3Fe2Ni alloy in 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution was studied by magnetostrictive vibratory device for cavitation erosion. The results show that the cavitation erosion resistance of the as-welded Cu12Mn8Al3Fe2Ni alloy is much more superior to that of the as-cast one. The cumulative mass loss and the mass loss rate of the as-welded Cu12Mn8Al3Fe2Ni alloy are almost 1/4 that of the as-cast one. SEM analysis of eroded specimens reveals that the as-cast Cu12Mn8Al3Fe2Ni alloy is attacked more severely than the as-welded one. Microcracks causing cavitation damage initiate at the phase boundaries.

Key words: Cu12Mn8Al3Fe2Ni alloy, Tungsten inert gas welding (TIG), Cavitation erosion