Effect of minor Sc and Zr addition on microstructures and mechanical properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys

Three kinds of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu based alloys with 0.22%, 0.36%（Sc＋Zr） （mass fraction, %）, and without Sc, Zr addition were prepared by ingot metallurgy. By using optical microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the effects of microalloying elements of Sc, Zr on the microstructure of super-high-strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys related to mechanical properties were investigated. The tensile properties and microstructures of the studied alloys under different heat treatment conditions were studied. The addition of minor Sc, Zr results in the formation of Ala（Sc,Zr） particles. These particles are highly effective in refining the microstructures, retarding recrystallization, pinning dislocations and subboundaries. The strength of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys was greatly improved by simultaneously adding minor Sc, Zr, meanwhile the ductility of the studied alloys remains at a higher level. The 0.36%（Sc＋Zr） alloys gain the optimal properties after 465 ℃/h solution and 120 ℃/24 h aging. The increment of strength is mainly due to strengthening of fine grain and substructure and precipitation ofAl3（Sc, Zr） particles.     

Effects of minor Sc and Zr additions on mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of Al−Zn−Mg−Cu alloys

The effects of minor Sc and Zr additions on the mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of Al−Zn−Mg−Cu alloys were studied using tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultimate tensile strength of the peak-aged Al−Zn−Mg−Cu alloy is improved by about 105 MPa with the addition of 0.10% Zr. An increase of about 133 MPa is observed with the joint addition of 0.07% Sc and 0.07% Zr. For the alloys modified with the minor addition of Sc and Zr (0.14%), the main strengthening mechanisms of minor addition of Sc and Zr are fine-grain strengthening, sub-structure strengthening and the Orowan strengthening mechanism produced by the Al₃(Sc,Zr) and Al₃Zr dispersoids. The volume of Al₃Zr particles is less than that of Al₃(Sc,Zr) particles, but the distribution of Al₃(Sc,Zr) particles is more dispersed throughout the matrix leading to pinning the dislocations motion and restraining the recrystallization more effectively.     

Effect of minor Sc and Zr on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy

1 Introduction The microstructure and properties of aluminium alloys are strongly affected by adding small quantities of scandium. Minor Sc may improve the temperature of recrystallization and fracture toughness, decrease the sensitivity of stress corrosi…     

Effect of minor Sc and Zr on superplasticity of Al-Mg-Mn alloys

The effect of Sc and Zr on the superplastic properties of Al-Mg-Mn alloy sheets was investigated by control experiment. The superplastic properties and the mechanism of superplastic deformation of the two alloys were studied by means of optical microscope, scanning electronic microscope and transmission electron microscope. The elongation to failure of Al-Mg-Mn-Sc-Zr alloy is larger than that of Al-Mg-Mn alloy at the same temperature and initial strain rate. The variation of strain rate sensitivity index is similar to that of elongation to failure. In addition, Al-Mg-Mn-Sc-Zr alloy exhibits higher strain rate superplastic property. The activation energies of the two alloys that are calculated by constitutive equation and linear regression method approach the energy of grain boundary diffusion. The addition of Sc and Zr decreases activation energy and improves the superplastic property of Al-Mg-Mn alloy. The addition of Sc and Zr refines the grain structure greatly. The main mechanism of superplastic deformation of the two alloys is grain boundary sliding accommodated by grain boundary diffusion. The fine grain structure and high density of grain boundary, benefit grain boundary sliding, and dynamic recrystallization brings new fine grain and high angle grain boundary which benefit grain boundary sliding too. Grain boundary diffusion, dislocation motion and dynamic recrystallization harmonize the grain boundary sliding during deformation.     

Effect of Mg composition on sintering behaviors and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Mg alloy

Al–3Cu–Mg alloy was fabricated by the powder metallurgy (P/M) processes. Air-atomized powders of each alloying element were blended with various Mg contents (0.5%, 1.5%, and 2.5%, mass fraction). The compaction pressure was selected to achieve the elastic deformation, local plastic deformation, and plastic deformation of powders, respectively, and the sintering temperatures for each composition were determined, where the liquid phase sintering of Cu is dominant. The microstructural analysis of sintered materials was performed using optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to investigate the sintering behaviors and fracture characteristics. The transverse rupture strength (TRS) of sintered materials decreased with greater Mg content (Al–3Cu–2.5Mg). However, Al–3Cu–0.5Mg alloy exhibited moderate TRS but higher specific strength than Al–3Cu without Mg addition.     

Effect of Er additions on ambient and high-temperature strength of precipitation-strengthened Al–Zr–Sc–Si alloys

The effect of substituting 0.01 at.% Er for Sc in an Al–0.06Zr–0.06Sc–0.04Si (at.%) alloy subjected to a two-stage aging treatment (4 h/300 °C and 8 h/425 °C) is assessed to determine the viability of dilute Al–Si–Zr–Sc–Er alloys for creep applications. Upon aging, coherent, 2–3 nm radius, L1₂-ordered, trialuminide precipitates are created, consisting of an Er- and Sc-enriched core and a Zr-enriched shell; Si partitions to the precipitates without preference for the core or the shell. The Er substitution significantly improves the resistance of the alloy to dislocation creep at 400 °C, increasing the threshold stress from 7 to 10 MPa. Upon further aging under an applied stress for 1045 h at 400 °C, the precipitates grow modestly to a radius of 5–10 nm, and the threshold stress increases further to 14 MPa. These chemical and size effects on the threshold stress are in qualitative agreement with the predictions of a recent model, which considers the attractive interaction force between mismatching, coherent precipitates and dislocations that climb over them. Micron-size, intra- and intergranular, blocky Al₃Er precipitates are also present, indicating that the solid solubility of Er in Al is exceeded, leading to a finer-grained microstructure, which results in diffusional creep at low stresses.     

Solidification structure and mechanical properties of Al–Li–Cu–Zr cast alloys

Abstract

The microstructure and properties of three Al–3Li–1Cu ternary alloys have been studied, in particular the effect of Zr additions on the microstructure, precipitation and mechanical properties. The results showed that, for these Al–Li casting alloys, Zr content up to 0.2 wt-% was acceptable, and the Zr additions appeared to refine the grain structure. During aging, the Zr rich phase provided nucleation sites for δ' phase and promoted δ' phase refinement and homogenisation. Under optimised conditions, the tensile strength and elongation to failure of the Al–Li–Cu–Zr casting alloys were 400 MPa and 2.5%, respectively.     

The effects of Sc on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hypo-eutectic Al−Si alloys

The eutectic Si microstructure in Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy was changed from large flakes to fine lamellar when the Sc amount in the alloy reached 0.2 wt.%. 0.8wt.%Sc was optimal in terms of attaining the best modification effect. Study on the distribution of the modifiers and measurement of the surface tension of Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy melt with added Sr, Na, and Sc modifiers, respectively, reveals that Sc modifies eutectic Si by a decrease of surface tension, while Sr and Na modify eutectic Si mainly by an impurity-induced twinning mechanism. Al-8.5wt.%Si-0.4wt.%Sc alloy displayed approximately 50 and 70% increases in tensile strength and elongation, respectively, over Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy in the cast state. It also presented approximately 65 and 70% increases in tensile strength and elongation, respectively, over Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy at a ppt heat-treated state at 200°C for 3 h.     

Effect of coating thickness on microstructures and mechanical properties of C/Cu/Al composites

The different copper coatings with thickness varying from 0.3 lain to 1.5 lain were deposited on carbon fibers using either eleetroless plating or electroplating method. The coated fibers were chopped and composites were fabricated with melting aluminum at 700 ℃. The effect of the copper layer on the microstructure in the system was discussed. The results show that the copper layer has fully reacted with aluminum matrix, and the intermetallic compound CuAl2 forms through SEM observation and XRD, EDX analysis. The results of tensile tests indicate that composites fabricated using carbon fibers with 0.7-1.1 lain copper coating perform best and the composites turn to more brittle as the thickness of copper coating increases. The fracture surface observation exhibits good interface bonding and ductility of the matrix alloy when the thickness of copper coating is about 0.7-1.1 μm.     

Effect of minor RE addition on microstructures and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy

AZ31 alloy with minor RE addition was investigated. The material was homogenized, hot-rolled and annealed. Opttcal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry were employed to characterize the microstructures of AZ31 alloy with RE addition. And micro-hardness test was employed to measure mechanical properties of annealed material. The results show that minor RE addition （0.3% is mass fraction） has little effect on the grain size of as-cast AZ31 alloy, and only Mg17（Al, Zn）12 phase was found in the microstructure of as-cast AZ31 RE alloy. The result of X-ray diffraction shows that supersaturation of alloying elements has little effect on the lattice parameters of the a-Mg in homogenized sample; but owing to RE solute with high melting point, AZ31 RE alloy exhibits better heat resistance than AZ31 alloy.     

Effect of Al addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg−Gd−Zn alloys

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Mg?15.3Gd?1Zn alloys with different Al contents (0, 0.4, 0.7 and 1.0 wt.%) were investigated. Microstructural analysis indicates that the addition of 0.4 wt.% Al facilitates the formation of 18R-LPSO phase (Mg₁₂Gd(Al, Zn)) in the Mg?Gd?Zn alloy. The contents of Al₁₁Gd₃ and Al₂Gd increase with the increase of Al content, while the content of (Mg, Zn)₃Gd decreases. After homogenization treatment, (Mg, Zn)₃Gd, 18R-LPSO and some Al₁₁Gd₃ phases are transformed into the high-temperature stable 14H-LPSO phases. The particulate Al?Gd phases can stimulate the nucleation of dynamic recrystallization by the particle simulated nucleation (PSN) mechanism. The tensile strength of the as-rolled alloys is improved remarkably due to the grain refinement and the fiber-like reinforcement of LPSO phase. The precipitation of the β′ phase in the peak-aged alloys can significantly improve the strength. The peak-aged alloy containing 0.4 wt.% Al achieves excellent mechanical properties and the UTS, YS and elongation are 458 MPa, 375 MPa and 6.2%, respectively.     

Phases and microstructures of high Zn-containing Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys

Phases and microstructures of three high Zncontaining Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys were investigated by means of thermodynamic calculation method, optica microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM)energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS), X-ray diffraction(XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) analysis. The results indicate that similar dendritic network morphologies are found in these three Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys. The as-cast 7056 aluminum alloy consists of aluminum solid solution, coarse Al/Mg(Cu, Zn, Al)_2 eutectic phases, and fine intermetallic compounds g(MgZn_2). Both of as-cast 7095 and 7136 aluminum alloys involve a(Al)eutectic Al/Mg(Cu, Zn, Al)_2, intermetallic g(MgZn_2), and h(Al_2Cu). During homogenization at 450 °C, fine g(MgZn_2) can dissolve into matrix absolutely. After homogenization at 450 °C for 24 h, Mg(Cu, Zn, Al)_2 phase in 7136 alloy transforms into S(Al_2Cu Mg) while no change is found in 7056 and 7095 alloys. The thermodynamic calculation can be used to predict the phases in high Zncontaining Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys.     

Effect of Ru additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr–TaCr2 alloys

Early work indicated that Ru reduced the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of Cr even at small concentrations. To evaluate the potential of Ru as a beneficial alloying element in the two-phase Cr–TaCr₂ alloys, a number of Cr–8 at.%Ta alloys with 0–10 at.%Ru were prepared, and their microstructures and mechanical properties were evaluated. The Ru addition was found to move the eutectic point of Cr–TaCr₂ to a higher Ta level, as compared to the binary Cr–Ta system. Ru partitioned preferentially in the Laves phase over in the Cr matrix, with a partitioning ratio of 2–5:1, depending on the Ru addition level. Ru was also found to mainly occupy the Cr site in the TaCr₂ Laves phase. The hardness of both the primary Cr matrix and the eutectic microconstituent increased slightly with the increase in Ru addition. At a higher Ru addition level (i.e. 10 at.%), the hardness of the primary Cr matrix increased significantly, probably due to the precipitation of extremely fine Laves-phase precipitates. The Ru addition did not noticeably affect the fracture toughness of the two-phase alloys.     

Effect of thermomechanical treatment on the microstructure,phase composition,and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Mn–Mg–Zr alloy

The effect of the thermomechanical treatment on the microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of heat-treatable AA2519 aluminum alloy (according to the classification of the Aluminum Association) has been considered. After solid-solution treatment, quenching, and artificial aging (T6 treatment) at 180°C for the peak strength, the yield stress, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation to failure are ~300 MPa, 435 MPa, and 21.7%, respectively. It has been shown that treatments that include intermediate plastic deformations with degrees of 7 and 15% (T87 and T815 treatments, respectively) have a significant effect on the phase composition and morphology of strengthening particles precipitated during peak aging T8X type, where X is pre-strain percent, treatments initiate the precipitation of significant amounts of particles of the θ′- and Ω-phases. After T6 treatment, predominantly homogeneously distributed particles of θ″-phase have been observed. Changes in the microstructure and phase composition of the AA2519 alloy, which are caused by intermediate deformation, lead to a significant increase in the yield stress and ultimate tensile strength (by ~40 and ~8%, respectively), whereas the plasticity decreases by 40–50%.     

Effect of non-isothermal aging on microstructure and properties of Al–5.87Zn–2.07Mg–2.42Cu alloys

The evolution of microstructure and properties of Al–5.87Zn–2.07Mg–2.42Cu alloys during non-isothermal aging was studied. The mechanical properties of the alloy were tested by stretching at room temperature. The results show that in the non-isothermal aging process, when the alloy is cooled to 140 °C, the ultimate tensile strength of the alloy reaches a maximum value of 582 MPa and the elongation is 11.9%. The microstructure was tested through a transmission electron microscope, and the experimental results show that the GP zones and η’ phases are the main strengthening precipitates. At the cooling stage, when the temperature dropped to 180 °C, the GP zones were precipitated again. Besides, the experimental results show that the main strengthening phase during non-isothermal aging is η’ phases.     

Effect of carbon and oxygen on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–25V–15Cr–2Al (wt%) alloys

The effect of carbon additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of alloys with different levels of oxygen was studied in β titanium alloys of the general composition Ti–25V–15Cr–2Al (all compositions are in wt% unless otherwise indicated). The microstructures were studied using optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that titanium carbides with vacancy-ordered structure formed in all alloys with C additions of over 1000 w.p.p.m. Grains were refined by carbides. Wavelength-dispersive X-ray (WDX) analysis showed that oxygen was much higher in carbides than in β matrix. After long-term exposure at 550°C α precipitation was significantly reduced in samples with titanium carbides compared with those without. A significant improvement in room temperature tensile ductility was achieved by the addition of carbon to the alloys. Elongations of ∼10% were obtained in samples which were exposed at 550°C for 500 h following heat treatments at 1050 and 700°C.     

Effect of Si addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–Al–N coating

Ti–Al–N coatings are widely used to prevent the untimely consumption of cutting tools exposed to wear. Increasing requirements on high speed and dry cutting application open up new demands on the quality of wear-protective quaternary or multinary Ti–Al–N based coating materials. Here, we investigated the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–Al–N and Ti–Al–Si–N coatings deposited on cemented carbide by cathodic arc evaporation. The formation of nanocomposite nc-TiAlN/a-Si₃N₄ structure by incorporation of Si into Ti–Al–N coating causes a significant increase on hardness from ∼ 35.7 GPa of Ti–Al–N to ∼ 42.4 GPa of Ti–Al–Si–N. Both coatings behave age-hardening during thermal annealing, however Ti–Al–Si–N coating reveal better thermal stability. Therefore, the improved cutting performance of Ti–Al–Si–N coated inserts is obtained compared to Ti–Al–N coated inserts.     

Controlled semisolid microstructures and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si–Mn wrought alloy produced by D-SSF

Abstract

The semisolid microstructures and the mechanical properties of Al–1˙35Mg–1˙04Si–0˙67Mn alloy produced by deformation semisolid forming (D-SSF) process were studied. Fine α-Al₁₅Mn₃Si₂ compounds precipitate homogeneously during the homogenisation treatment. These compounds effectively inhibit the coarsening of recrystallised grains during heating to the semisolid temperature. When the liquid fraction is controlled to be ～23%, the complete die filling is not achieved. Therefore, in order to achieve good fluidity, it is necessary to control the liquid fraction to be more than 30%. The average grain size and the liquid fraction at the semisolid temperature influence directly mechanical properties. Therefore, the relationship among the average grain size, the liquid fraction at the semisolid temperature and mechanical properties was evaluated. Furthermore, the optimum semisolid microstructure was determined and the condition for the D-SSF process was established.     

Effects of fluidised bed quenching on heat treating characteristics of cast Al–Si–Mg and Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys

Abstract

The quench sensitivity of Al–Si–Mg (D357 unmodified and Sr modified), and Al–Si–Mg–-Cu (354 and 319 Sr modified) cast alloys was investigated using a fluidised bed (FB). The average cooling rate of castings in the fluidised bed is lower than those quenched in water; the cooling rate first increases to a certain maximum and then decreases during quenching. The change in the cooling rate during quenching in water was more drastic, where the cooling rate varied from 0 to ?80 K s^?1 in less than 8 s, as compared with those quenched in FB, where the cooling rate varied from 0 to ?14 K s^?1 in 18 s. The FB quenching resulted in the formation of several metastable phases in Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys; in contrast, no such transformation was observed during water quenching. The T4 yield strength of the FB quenched alloys was greater than water quenched alloys owing to the formation of a greater volume fraction of metastable phases in the FB quenched alloys. The tensile properties of T6 treated alloys show that Al–Si–Mg alloys (both unmodified and Sr modified) are more quench sensitive than Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys. The high quench sensitivity of the Al–Si–Mg alloys is because GP zones are not formed, whereas GP zones are formed during quenching of the Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys as predicted by time temperature transformation and continuous cooling transformation) diagrams.     

Effect of interfacial solute segregation on ductile fracture of Al–Cu–Sc alloys

Three-dimensional atom probe analysis is employed to characterize the Sc segregation at θ′/α-Al interfaces in Al–2.5 wt.% Cu–0.3 wt.% Sc alloys aged at 473, 523 and 573 K, respectively. The interfacial Sc concentration is quantitatively evaluated and the change in interfacial energy caused by Sc segregation is assessed, which is in turn correlated to yield strength and ductility of the alloys. The strongest interfacial Sc segregation is generated in the 523 K-aged alloy, resulting in an interfacial Sc concentration about 10 times greater than that in the matrix and a reduction of ～25% in interfacial energy. Experimental results show that the interfacial Sc segregation promotes θ′ precipitation and enhances the strengthening response. A scaling relationship between the interfacial energy and precipitation strengthening increment is proposed to account for the most notable strengthening effect observed in the 523 K-aged alloy, which is ～2.5 times that in its Sc-free counterpart and ～1.5 times that in the 473 and 573 K-aged Al–Cu–Sc alloys. The interfacial Sc segregation, however, causes a sharp drop in the ductility when the precipitate radius is larger than ～200 nm in the 523 K-aged alloy, indicative of a transition in fracture mechanisms. The underlying fracture mechanism for the low ductility regime, revealed by in situ transmission electron microscopy tensile testing, is that interfacial decohesion occurs at the θ′ precipitates ahead of crack tip and favorably aids the crack propagation. A micromechanical model is developed to rationalize the precipitate size-dependent transition in fracture mechanisms by taking into account the competition between interfacial voiding and matrix Al rupture that is tailored by interfacial Sc segregation.