Dr. William Golumbfskie

Title: Aluminum Sensitization and the Navy: The Unintended Consequence of Performance-Based Procurement Specifications

Speaker: William Golumbfskie

Affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, West Bethesda, MD

Abstract:
Aluminum alloys have become more prevalent in marine applications, with the Navy’s need to build
lighter, faster ships. The high magnesium Sxxx alloys are the best candidates, maximizing spedfic
strength, corrosion resistance, and as-welded strength. Of particular concern is susceptibility to
sensitization. The operating environment for Navy ships is particularly harsh, with wide variations in
temperature and exposure to seawater. It is known that aluminum alloys currently in service are subject
to sensit ization, which Increases the likelihood of stress corrosion cracking. exfoliation, or intergranular
corrosion, often necessitating the replacement of compromised material. This presentation will provide
a historical survey of alumonum alloys in the Navy. The current state of the art for sensitization prediction,
detection, mitigation, and repair will be discussed, including the development of sensitization resistant
materials. The effects of material processing and resultant microstructure with respect to the rate of
beta-phase precipitation and extent of sensitization will be presented in detail.

Bio:

Dr. William Golumbfskie is a senior materials science engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center,
Carderock Division. His current area of research focuses on the study of marine grade aluminum alloys,
more specifically, the effects of sensitization arid subsequent stress corrosion cracking with respect to
material processing and resultant microstructure. William earned his B.S. in Materials Science and
Engineering from lehigh University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science from The Pennsylvania
State University.