Influence of convection during droplet evaporation on corrosion product distribution in CFRP-AA2024 galvanic couple: Modeling and experimental approaches

This work aims to clarify the impact of convection, generated within an electrolyte droplet during evaporation, on the distribution of Al ( OH ) 3 in the CFRP-AA2024 system. Both Finite Element and experimental approaches were employed to determine whether convection is significant or negligible. By coupling the Navier–Stokes and Nernst–Planck equations with appropriate geometric and boundary conditions, the transient distribution of corrosion products was numerically tracked. The results showed that Al ( OH ) 3 preferentially deposits on the CFRP surface, a pattern absent when convection is excluded. Experiments confirmed that internal convective currents can transport the Al ( OH ) 3 compound, aligning with the numerical predictions. • The CFRP-AA2024 system was studied under evaporating droplets. • A 2D model, including convection, predicted the distribution of corrosion products. • Gentle currents generated during droplet evaporation dispersed the corrosion products. • Al(OH) 3 preferentially accumulates on the CFRP surface.