Effects of different tempers on precipitation hardening of 6000 series aluminium alloys

By means of Vickers hardness,mechanical property and formability tests,the effects of different tempers on precipitation hardening of 6000 series aluminium alloys for automotive body sheets were investigated.The results indicate that the short-time pre-aging at 170℃makes for subsequent artificial aging precipitation hardening.With the increase of pre-aging time,the artificial aging hardenability increases.The aging hardening rate reaches the maximum when pre-aging time is up to 10 min,and then it decreases.The short-time pre-aging at 170℃benefits sheets to obtain lower strength under delivery condition and consequently to improve stamping formability of automotive body sheets.The effects of different tempers on precipitation hardening are much more obvious than those of the alloying elements.It is a good treatment schedule to perform pre-aging for 5 min at 170℃right after solution treatment.     

Effects of the Delay Between Quenching and Aging on Hardness and Tensile Properties of A356 Aluminum Alloy

The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of heat treatment guidelines, generally followed in industrial practices, about the T6 heat treatment of A356 aluminum alloy. In particular, the effect of the delay between quenching and artificial aging (pre-aging time) on microstructure, hardness, and tensile behavior was studied using specimens extracted from different locations of a cylinder head, characterized by different cooling rates and, consequently, by different secondary dendrite arm spacing values. Hardness and tensile tests confirmed the detrimental effect of pre-aging with a 20% reduction in hardness and strength after approximately 1 h of pre-aging, both for samples with fine and large SDAS. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses on samples that were solutionized, quenched, and pre-aged between 0 and 96 h, suggested that the nature and composition of the clusters formed during pre-aging, rather than their size, influenced the subsequent precipitation process and the final mechanical properties of the alloy.     

6111铝合金的时效硬化研究

对6111铝合金的铸锭进行均匀化、热轧、退火、冷轧及固溶处理后,研究了其合金自然时效时及人工时效过程中硬度随时间的变化规律.研究表明,该合金具有一定的自然时效倾向,人工时效具有明显的回归现象.在人工时效前的预处理能明显增加人工时效时的硬化速度,提高烤漆硬化能力.     

预时效处理对 Al-Zn-Mg-Cu 合金硬化响应及微观组织的影响

研究了预时效处理对Al-Zn-Mg-Cu铝合金薄板力学性能和微观组织的影响,测试了显微硬度和力学性能,表征了TEM微观精细组织。结果表明:固溶处理后在180 ℃立即进行人工时效处理,可获得Al-Zn-Mg-Cu合金的显著时效硬化效果,且在8 h后达到峰值硬度195 HV0.5,与基体呈共格关系的η′相为主要强化相;120 ℃×10 min为最佳的预时效处理制度,经14天的室温停滞后,相比于固溶+自然时效态,硬度降低了13 HV0.5,降幅达到10.7%,具有明显的抑制自然时效作用;预时效+自然时效态试样,经烘烤硬化处理后,屈服强度和抗拉强度分别达到了465和545 MPa,强度增量分别达到170和95 MPa,同时伸长率达到12.5%。     

预时效制度对Al-Mg-Si-Cu合金组织与性能的影响

通过TEM及拉伸性能试验研究了较宽的预时效工艺参数(80~200℃,2~30 m in)下,A l-Mg-S i-Cu合金的组织及性能演变规律。研究表明:实验合金在80~200℃进行预时效处理,能够抑制自然时效的不利影响。在80℃×(2~30 m in)进行预时效后,材料烘烤硬化效应提高有限;在120~160℃预时效5~10 m in后,材料的烘烤硬化效应得到较大的提高,且材料烤漆前的屈服强度较低,有利于冲压成形;在更高的温度如200℃进行预时效时,材料烤漆前屈服强度过高,但此时材料的烘烤硬化效应提高尤为显著。T4P下GP区的尺寸对材料烘烤硬化效应的提高至关重要。     

Pre-precipitate clusters and precipitation processes in Al–Mg–Si alloys

The solute clusters and the metastable precipitates in aged Al–Mg–Si alloys have been characterized by a three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After long-term natural aging, Mg–Si co-clusters have been detected in addition to separate Si and Mg atom clusters. The particle density of β″ after 10 h artificial aging at 175°C varies depending on pre-aging conditions, i.e. pre-aging at 70°C increases the number density of the β″ precipitates, whereas natural aging reduces it. This suggests that the spherical GP zones formed at 70°C serve as nucleation sites for the β″ in the subsequent artificial aging, whereas co-clusters formed at room temperature do not. Atom probe analysis results have revealed that the Mg:Si ratios of the GP zones and the β″ precipitates in the alloy with excess amount of Si are 1:1, whereas those in the Al–Mg₂Si quasi-binary alloy are 2:1. Based on these results, the characteristic two-step age-hardening behavior in Al–Mg–Si alloys is discussed.     

Modeling of precipitation hardening in pre-aged AlMgSi(Cu) alloys

A new analytical method to estimate the evolution of the relative volume fraction of precipitates during artificial aging of pre-aged AlMgSi(Cu) alloys in the underaged regime is introduced. The analytical results demonstrate that the precipitation processes in AlMgSi(Cu) alloys are isokinetic in commercially relevant temperature ranges. The theory of transformations is used to model isothermal and non-isothermal aging kinetics in isokinetic systems where the precipitate nuclei pre-exist at the start of aging and definite precipitate contents are reached at the end of transformation. A simple physically based model is also developed for the prediction of the average size of precipitates during artificial aging of pre-aged alloys, when “growth” is the controlling mechanism of precipitation. The microstructural models are combined with a previously developed yield strength model and the evolution of yield strengths during isothermal and non-isothermal aging of AlMgSi(Cu) alloys, with various pre-aging histories, are modeled. The analytical method and the microstructural and yield strength models are validated using experimental results.     

预时效对车身用6016铝合金烘烤硬化性能的影响

采用硬度测试、拉伸试验和透射电镜等手段研究了不同预时效处理对6016铝合金烘烤前后微观组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明:6016铝合金具有较强的自然时效硬化能力,自然时效24 h的6016铝硬度比固溶态合金硬度增加了45.6%。自然时效超过24 h以后,合金硬度值变化不大。通过预时效处理可以显著提高6016铝合金的烘烤硬化效果。经550 ℃×30 min固溶+160 ℃×10 min预时效处理后,6016铝合金规定塑性延伸强度为131.4 MPa,伸长率为24.7%。再经175 ℃×30 min烘烤后合金规定塑性延伸强度达到199.5 MPa,烘烤硬化值(BH)为68.1 MPa,此工艺为6016铝合金车身板最佳的热处理工艺。     

预时效对Al-Zn-Mg-Cu系铝合金组织及硬度的影响

研究了Al-Zn-Mg-Cu系铝合金形变热处理过程中时效制度变化对其组织和性能的影响。结果表明,预时效过程中适当地提高时效温度和延长时效保温时间,可以得到预时效的优化工艺参数;金相观察发现,预时效后合金再结晶明显细化,可观察到明显的析出相;预时效后随着形变量的增加,合金硬度随之增加,当形变量达到40%左右时合金硬度最高,随形变量增加,合金硬度略有下降;变形后的试样再进行终时效处理后,硬度提升不明显。     

The effect of pre-aging on the electromigration of flip-chip SnAg solder joints

The effect of pre-aging on electromigration is investigated in this study using flip-chip SnAg solder joints. The solder joints were pre-aged at 170°C for 1 h, 3 h, 5 h, 10 h, 25 h, and 50 h, and then they were subjected to electromigration tests of 0.9 A at 150°C. It was found that the average failure time increased about three times when the joints were pre-aged for 3 h to 25 h. But it decreased when the joints were overaged. It is proposed that the major contributor to the prolonged failure time may be the densification of the nickel and copper under-bump metallization (UBM) and the solder due to the aging treatment. The pre-aging treatment at 170°C may stabilize the microstructure of the solder. The vacancies in the solder were annihilated during the heat treatment, causing a slower diffusion rate. In addition, the UBM structure became denser after the pre-aging process. Thus, the denser UBM structure may lead to slower consumption rates of the nickel and copper layers, resulting in the enhancement of electromigration resistance.     

Single-aging characteristics of 7055 aluminum alloy

The microstructures and properties of 7055 aluminum alloy were studied at different single-aging for up to 48 h using hardness test, tensile test, electrical conductivity measurement, XRD and TEM microstructure analysis. The results show that at the early stage of aging, the hardness and strength of the alloy increase rapidly, the peak hardness and strength are approached after 120 ℃ aging for 4 h, then maintained at a high level for a long time. The suitable single-aging treatment of 7055 alloy is 480 ℃, 1 h solution treatment and water quenching, then aging at 120 ℃ for 24 h. Under those condition, the tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and electrical conductivity of the studied alloy are 513 MPa, 462 MPa, 9.5% and 29%（IACS）, respectively. During aging, the solid solution decomposes and precipitation occurs. At the early aging stage of 120 ℃, GP zones form and then grow up gradually with increasing ageing time. η′ phase forms after ageing for 4 h and η phase starts to occur after 24 h aging.     

自然时效效应及预时效处理对7A20铝合金组织性能的影响

研究了中强度7A20铝合金的自然时效硬化效应及预时效处理对组织和性能的影响。采用光学显微镜和透射电镜表征了其微观组织结构,采用维氏硬度计和万能拉伸试验机测试了其硬度和力学性能。结果表明:固溶态7A20试验铝合金的自然时效硬化效应明显,12天后硬度由56 HV0.5提高到122 HV0.5,提高了117.86%。经120 ℃×10 min预时效处理后,自然时效硬化增量最低,相比于固溶态降低了16 HV0.5,有效抑制自然时效硬化效应;同时,预时效处理提升了烘烤硬化效应,烘烤硬化后屈服强度提升了166 MPa,抗拉强度提高了51 MPa,伸长率降低了7%。烘烤处理前,其晶内的强化主要来自于与基体共格的GP区,烘烤处理后为尺寸小于5 nm、弥散分布的η′强化相。     

Precipitation of metastable phases and its effect on electrical resistivity of Al-0.96Mg2Si alloy during aging

The precipitation behavior and its influence on the electrical resistivity of the Al-0.96Mg₂Si alloy during aging were investigated with in-situ resistivity measurement and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The precipitates of the peak aged alloy include both β″ and β′, but the amount ratio of β″ to β′ varies with the aging temperature and time increasing. The precipitates during aging at 175 °C are dominated by needle-like β″ phases (including pre-β″ phase), the size of which increases with the time prolonging, but does not increase substantially after further aging. The evolution of electrical conductivity is directly related to such microstructural evolution. However, the hardness of the alloy stays at the peak value for a long term. When the alloy is aged at 195 °C, the ratio of β″ to β′ becomes the main factor to influence relative resistivity (Δρ) value. The higher the temperature is, the smaller the ratio is, and the faster the Δρ value decreases. Moreover, the hardness peak drops with the decrease of the ratio. With the size and distribution parameters measured from TEM images, a semi-quantitative relationship between precipitates and the electrical resistivity was established.     

时效时间对7150铝合金组织和性能的影响

通过维氏硬度测试、电导率测试和拉伸、晶间腐蚀等测试方法,研究了预时效、回归及再时效三个阶段中的时效时间对7150铝合金组织和性能的影响,借助透射电镜观察时效处理各阶段合金的微观组织演变。结果表明:120℃×20 h欠时效作为预时效工艺,比120℃×24 h峰时效的晶内析出相更细小,高温回归时更利于回溶。在190℃短时回归5、15和30 min中,15 min回溶效果最好,硬度最低,再经120℃×24 h再时效后合金抗拉强度Rm、屈服强度RP0.2、伸长率A分别为622 MPa、573 MPa、10.8%,显微硬度为204 HV,力学性能与120℃×24 h单级峰时效时相近。经120℃×20 h+190℃×15 min+120℃×24 h处理后7150铝合金综合性能好,耐晶间腐蚀性能佳。     

固溶时效工艺对Cu-Ni-Co-Si合金组织和性能的影响

通过硬度和导电率的测量、光学显微镜和透射电镜(TEM),研究了固溶时效工艺对Cu-Ni-Co-Si合金组织和性能的影响。结果表明:经过950 ℃×30 min水淬+500 ℃×480 min随炉冷却后,Cu-Ni-Co-Si 合金得到良好的综合性能:硬度为243.55 HV3,导电率为42.24%IACS;添加少量的V有利于提高二次时效后合金的导电率,并且进行适当的一次时效对提高合金的导电率和硬度是有利的,可以使二次时效试样迅速获得良好的综合性能;Cu-Ni-Co-Si合金的主要强化相为盘状正交结构的δ-(Co,Ni)₂Si,过饱和固溶体析出的沉淀物均匀分布,但位错缠结始终存在,其中基体与析出相的位向关系为[001]_m//[110]_p, (010)_m //(001)_p。     

Influence of interrupted quenching on artificial aging of Al–Mg–Si alloys

In this study the influence of interrupted quenching (IQ) in the temperature range 150–250 °C for periods of 15–1080 s on artificial aging after long-term natural pre-aging was studied for the Al–Mg–Si alloy AA6061 by atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy, electrical resistivity and hardness measurements, and differential scanning calorimetry. Compared with a standard quenching procedure, the results showed that hardening kinetics and the age hardening response were enhanced for IQ at low temperatures but reduced at high temperatures. Quenched-in vacancies were shown to be of particular importance for the nucleation of precipitates occurring during IQ at the lower end of the temperature range, finally leading to the formation of a dense distribution of β″ during artificial aging. For standard water quenching and subsequent natural aging, nucleation is hindered by a low concentration of quenched-in vacancies in the matrix. IQ at high temperatures affects subsequent artificial aging via the formation of precipitates which do not contribute to hardening but consume a significant amount of solute.     

预时效对6111铝合金时效硬化的影响

采用正交试验方法研究了两段预时效处理工艺参数(温度和时间)对6111铝合金最终时效行为的影响。结果表明:该合金有比较明显的回归现象,而且随第二段预时效处理温度升高,回归现象更加明显。第二段预时效温度对烤漆硬化效果影响最大,其他因素的影响依次为:第二段时效时间>第一段时效温度>第一段时效时间。     

Microscopic phase-field simulation for precipitation behavior of Ni-Al-Cr alloy during two-step aging

Based on the microscopic phase-field model, the pre-aging temperature effects on the precipitation mechanism and microstructure evolution during two-step aging for Ni75A19Cr16 alloy were simulated. The results show that the early precipitation mechanism of Ll2 phase is the mixed mechanism of spinodal decomposition and non-classical nucleation growth, whereas the early precipitation mechanism of DOzz phase is spinodal decomposition when the pre-aging temperature is 873 K. The early precipitation mechanism of LIz phase is non-classical nucleation growth, whereas the early precipitation mechanism of DOzz phase is spinodal decomposition when the pre-aging temperature is 973 K. Under the effects of elastic strain energy, the cubic particles exhibit directional alignment along [ 100] and [010] directions during the late precipitation, which is more obvious at lower pre-temperature. DOzz phases appear earlier than Llz phases under these two kinds of precipitation processes; and the nucleation incubation time becomes long with the increase of pre-temperature.     

固溶时效处理对TC20钛合金α相演变和硬度的影响

采用SEM、TEM、XRD和硬度等技术对先固溶(840 ℃×0.5 h)后不同时效(460 ℃×4 h;320 ℃×15 min→460 ℃×4 h;320 ℃×10 min;460 ℃×10 min)热处理工艺的TC20合金试样进行了观察与表征,研究TC20合金的α相对时效过程中β→α相转变。结果表明:热轧态组织由α相与β相共同组成,固溶态组织相中生成了许多小尺寸α相。采用460 ℃×4 h进行处理试样内形成了片状分布的α相,采用320 ℃×15 min→460 ℃× 4 h处理试样内形成了具有更小长宽比的α相,并且该试样内的大部分α相尺寸均接近100 nm。两种时效方法形成的第二相都是α相,采用320 ℃×15 min→460 ℃×4 h处理具有尺寸更加细小的α相。当温度到达460 ℃时更多α相可以通过ω相进行形核,从而在β基体上形成致密均匀分布状态。采用320 ℃×15 min→460 ℃×4 h处理后合金中的ω相已不存在,同时析出了更多的α相,合金硬度高达503 HV,显著高于β基体的硬度,α相可以促进合金硬度的大幅提升。     

脉冲磁场对Al-6.15Zn-1.41Mg-1.45Cu合金双级时效组织和性能的影响

将Al-6.15Zn-1.41Mg-1.45Cu合金在477℃固溶1 h后,基于脉冲磁场对Al-6.15Zn-1.41Mg-1.45Cu合金进行双级时效处理,通过改变时效时间,且与常规双级时效组织和性能对比分析,研究脉冲磁场对Al-6.15Zn-1.41Mg-1.45Cu合金时效过程中析出相和力学性能的影响,并结合动力学分析Al-6.15Zn-1.41Mg-1.45Cu合金在脉冲磁场双级时效过程中析出相加速析出的扩散机制。采用SEM观察Al-6.15Zn-1.41Mg-1.45Cu合金析出相和拉伸断口形貌,并进行力学性能测试。结果表明,脉冲磁场在Al-6.15Zn-1.41Mg-1.45Cu合金经时效过程中,提高扩散系数,提高析出相的形核率,使得时效后,基体中出现弥散细小的析出相。经脉冲磁场双级时效处理(121℃×90 min+177℃×60 min)后,抗拉强度为495.43 MPa,硬度为156.3 HV5,相比于常规的双级时效处理,抗拉强度提升20.83%,硬度提升17.89%,时效保温时间缩短87.5%。