Effect of secondary aging on microstructure and properties of cast Al-Cu-Mg alloy

To obtain better comprehensive properties of cast Al-Cu-Mg alloys, the secondary aging (T6I6) process (including initial aging, interrupted aging and re-aging stages) was optimized by an orthogonal method. The microstructures of the optimized Al-Cu-Mg alloy were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and the properties were investigated by hardness measurements, tensile tests, exfoliation corrosion tests, and intergranular corrosion tests. Results show that the S phase and θ′ phase simultaneously exist in the T6I6 treated alloy. Appropriately increasing the temperature of the interrupted aging in the T6I6 process can improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Al-Cu-Mg alloy. The optimal comprehensive properties (tensile strength of 443.6 MPa, hardness of 161.6 HV) of the alloy are obtained by initial aging at 180 °C for 2 h, interrupted aging at 90 °C for 30 min, and re-aging at 170 °C for 4 h.

     

Effects of trace Ag on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of extruded Mg−Gd−Y−Zr alloys

The effects of trace Ag element on the precipitation behaviors and mechanical properties of the Mg−7.5Gd− 1.5Y−0.4Zr (wt.%) alloy by means of tensile test, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscattered diffractometry, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. There is an unusual texture (〈0001〉//extrusion direction) in the extruded Mg−Gd−Y−Zr alloys containing 0.5 wt.% Ag. During the aging periods at 225 °C, the addition of the trace Ag does not form new precipitates, just accelerates aging kinetics, and refines β′ precipitates, thereby increasing the number density of the β′ precipitates by Ag-clusters. Moreover, the Mg−Gd−Y−Zr alloy containing 0.5 wt.% Ag shows the most excellent synergy of strength and plasticity (408 MPa of ultimate tensile strength, 265 MPa of yield strength, and 12.9% of elongation to failure) after peak-aging.     

强变形工艺对2519A铝合金组织与性能的影响

通过硬度测试、拉伸性能测试、透射电镜观察等分析手段研究了不同强变形工艺下2519A铝合金的力学性能与微观组织。结果表明,经50%的冷轧变形和165 ℃人工时效后,2519A合金的力学性能明显提高,其抗拉强度、屈服强度和伸长率分别为522 MPa、468 MPa和8.5%。而在冷变形前添加165 ℃×2 h预时效处理,合金的力学性能进一步提高,其抗拉强度、屈服强度和伸长率分别达到535 MPa、497 MPa和8%。预时效处理可以提高合金中θ′相的密度,使析出相分布更加均匀,有助于提高合金的力学性能。     

Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of 2219 Al Alloy During Aging Treatment

Hardness and tensile properties of 2219 Al alloys were tested at various temperature (150, 165, 175 °C) and subjected to T6 temper heat treatment to identify the peak aging time at various temperature. Microstructure evolution and precipitate behavior were analyzed with transmission electron microscope (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that the peak aging time is 24 h at 150 °C and does not vary down to 165 °C. When the aging temperature rise to 175 °C, the peak aging time down to 12 h. Considering the strength and elongation, the optimum aging treatment is at 165 °C for 24 h after the solution treatment at 535 °C for 1.5 h. Compared with that of only water-quenched sample, after aged at 165 °C for 24 h, the tensile strength of the 2219 Al alloy increases from 324.5 to 411.8 MPa, yield strength from 168 to 310.8 MPa, respectively. The improvement in the mechanical performance is mainly attributed to the precipitation strengthening of the GP zones, θ″ and θ’ phases.     

Enhanced Strength in Cu-Ag-Zr Alloy by Combination of Cold Working and Aging

In this investigation, the effect of different degree of cold rolling and post-aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Cu-3wt.%Ag-0.5wt.%Zr alloy was studied by means of hardness measurement, tensile tests, optical and electron microscopy. The alloy was subjected to cold rolling up to 80% followed by aging in the temperature range of 400-500 °C. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and hardness were found to increase as degree of cold rolling increased, but at the expense of ductility. Aging of cold rolled samples in the studied temperature range has resulted in different combinations of strength and ductility. However, aging of cold rolled samples at 400 °C for 1 h has resulted in a combination of high strength and moderate ductility. A yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of 511 and 560 MPa, respectively with a ductility of 12% were achieved for 80% cold rolled and aged (400 °C for 1 h) sample. The high strength achieved after 80% cold rolling and aging is mainly attributed to precipitation of fine silver precipitates.     

Influences of aging temperature and time on microstructure and mechanical properties of 6005A aluminum alloy extrusions

The influences of aging time and aging temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated on the 6005A aluminum alloy extrusions. Artificial aging was performed on the alloy extrusions. The aging times were 4, 8 and 12 h, and the aging temperatures were 150, 175 and 200 °C. The results show that the morphologies of the coarse Al(Fe,Cr)Si particles formed in the extrusion process are evolved from granular to rod-like particles with the increase of the aging temperature or the aging time. The volume fraction of the submicron precipitates reaches the maximum value at the aging temperature of 175 °C. AlFeSi particles in size of 1-3 μm are precipitated at the grain boundaries at the aging temperature of 200 °C. The room temperature mechanical properties of the extrusions are more sensitive to the aging temperature than to the aging time. The optimum and stable mechanical properties are achieved when the aging procedure 175 °C, 4-8 h has been performed on the extrusions. The tensile strength and the yield strength in the longitudinal direction of the aged extrusions are more than 300 MPa and 270 MPa, respectively.     

High temperature mechanical properties and microstructure of die forged Al−5.87Zn−2.07Mg−2.42Cu alloy

The high temperature mechanical properties (250 °C) and microstructure of a die-forged Al−5.87Zn− 2.07Mg−2.42Cu alloy after T6 heat treatment were investigated. High temperature tensile tests show that as the temperature increases from room temperature to 250 °C, the ultimate tensile strength of the alloy decreases from 638 to 304 MPa, and the elongation rises from 13.6% to 20.4%. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) were applied for microstructure characterization, which indicates that the increase of tensile temperature can lead to the coarsening of precipitates, drop of dislocation density, and increase of dynamic recovery. After tensile testing at 250 °C, a sub-grain structure composed of a high fraction of small-angle grain boundary is formed.     

Microstructure and Precipitate's Characterization of the Cu-Ni-Si-P Alloy

Microstructure of the Cu-Ni-Si-P alloy was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The alloy had 551 MPa tensile strength, 226 HV hardness, and 36% IACS electrical conductivity after 80% cold rolling and aging at 450 °C for 2 h. Under the same aging conditions, but without the cold rolling, the strength, hardness, and electrical conductivity were 379 MPa, 216 HV, and 32% IACS, respectively. The precipitates identified by TEM characterization were δ-Ni₂Si. Some semi-coherent spherical precipitates with a typical coffee bean contrast were found after aging for 48 h at 450 °C. The average diameter of the observed semi-coherent precipitates is about 5 nm. The morphology of the fracture surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy. All samples showed typical ductile fracture. The addition of P refined the grain size and increased the nucleation rate of the precipitates. The precipitated phase coarsening was inhibited by the small additions of P. After aging, the Cu-Ni-Si-P alloy can gain excellent mechanical properties with 804 MPa strength and 49% IACS conductivity. This study aimed to optimize processing conditions of the Cu-Ni-Si-P alloys.     

Effect of precipitation from tweed matrix on the mechanical properties in a metastable beta alloy of Ti-15-3

The effects of aging treatment on the microstructures and mechanical properties of a metastable beta titanium alloy Ti-15-3 (Ti−15V−3Al−3Sn-3Cr) have been investigated with hardness measurements, tensile test, and optical and electron microscopy. Precipitate-free beta structure with average grain size of about 56 μm was obtained after solution treatment at 800°C for 15 min followed by air cooling. Solution treated specimens were aged up to 800 h in the temperature range between 350 and 600°C. The morphology of the precipitates was varied significantly, depending on the aging temperature. The fine aggregates of α precipitates were dominant above 450°C. Peak hardness values were maintained up to 800 h at 500°C, which showed the superior thermal stability of α precipitates. Tensile strength increased up to 1600 MPa along with the decrease of elongation after aging at 350 and 400°C.     

固溶处理和人工时效对Al-Cu合金显微组织和力学性能的影响(英文)

对Al-Cu合金进行析出强化和人工时效处理以获得优异的力学性能,如高的强度、好的韧性。其热处理工艺条件为:510～530℃固溶处理2h;60℃水淬;160～190℃人工时效2～8h。采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、能谱分析、透射电镜和拉伸实验对经固溶和人工时效处理的Al-Cu合金的组织和力学性能进行表征。固溶处理实验结果表明,Al-Cu合金的力学性能随着固溶处理温度的升高先增加,然后降低。这是由于Al-Cu合金的残余相逐渐溶解进入基体中,从而导致析出相的数量和再结晶晶粒尺寸不断增加。相较于固溶处理温度,固溶处理时间对Al-Cu合金的影响较小。人工时效处理实验结果表明,合金经180℃时效8h,可以获得最大的拉伸强度。合金的最大拉伸强度和屈服强度随着时效时间的延长和温度的升高而升高。     

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.     

Fatigue strength and microstructure evaluation of Al 7050 alloy wires recycled by spray forming,extrusion and rotary swaging

Recycled high-strength aluminum alloys have limited use as structural materials due to poor mechanical properties. Spray forming remelting followed by hot extrusion is a promising route for reprocessing 7xxx alloys. The 7050 alloy machining chips were spray formed, hot extruded, rotary swaged and heat-treated in order to improve mechanical properties. Microstructures, tensile properties and fatigue strength results for a 2.7 mm-diameter recycled wire are presented. Secondary phases and precipitates were investigated by XRD, SEM, EBSD, TEM and DSC. As-swaged and heat-treated (solution and aging) conditions were evaluated. Mechanical properties of both conditions outperformed AA7050 aerospace specification. Substantial grain refinement resulted from the extensive plastic deformation imposed by rotary swaging. Refined micrometric and sub-micrometric Al grains, as well as coarse and fine intermetallic precipitates were observed. Subsequent solution treatment resulted in a homogeneous, recrystallized and equiaxed microstructure with grain size of 9 μm. Nanoscale GP(I) zones and η′ phase precipitates formed after aging at 120 °C, imparting higher tensile (586 MPa) and fatigue (198 MPa) strengths.     

Thermal stability evaluation of nanostructured Al6061 alloy produced by cryorolling

Grain growth of nanostructured Al6061 produced by cryorolling and aging process was investigated during isothermal heat treatment in 100–500 °C temperature range. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations demonstrate that after cryorolling and aging at 130 °C for 30 h, the microstructure contains 61 nm grains with dispersed 50–150 nm precipitates and 0.248% lattice strain. In addition, an increase in tensile strength up to 362 MPa because of formation of fine strengthening precipitation and nano-sized grains was observed. Thermal stability investigation within 100–500 °C temperature range showed release of lattice strain, dissolution of precipitates and grain growth. According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Mg₂Si precipitates disappeared after annealing at temperatures higher than 300 °C. According to the results, due to the limited grain growth up to 200 °C, there would be little decrease in mechanical properties, but within 300–500 °C range, the grain growth, dissolution of strengthening precipitates and decrease in mechanical properties are remarkable. The activation energies for grain growth were calculated to be 203.3 kJ/mol for annealing at 100–200 °C and 166.34 kJ/mol for annealing at 300–500 °C. The effect of precipitation dissolution on Al lattice parameter, displacement of Al6061 (111) XRD peak and Portevin–LeChatelier (PLC) effect on stress–strain curves is also discussed.     

V-5Cr-5Ti合金的拉伸性能及其强化机理

对真空熔炼V-5Cr-5Ti合金开展了均匀化退火、热锻开坯、冷轧变形和热处理实验,利用万能试验机、扫描电镜（SEM）和透射电镜（TEM）研究了V-5Cr-5Ti合金中析出相对力学性能影响,估算了V-5Cr-5Ti合金中析出相强化的效果。结果表明：铸态V-5Cr-5Ti合金存在以片层状析出相为特征的树枝状析出相,合金均匀化退火后析出相由片层状转化为针状,由树枝状转化成团聚状。析出相在变形过程中破碎成短条状或球状颗粒。铸态合金的抗拉强度、屈服强度和延伸率的平均值分别为505.0 MPa、415.0 MPa和8.2%,断裂机制为脆性的解理断裂。均匀化热处理后断裂机制转变为沿晶断裂和准解离断裂共存的混合型断裂。80%冷变形＋热处理后合金的抗拉强度、屈服强度和延伸率的平均值分别为487.3 MPa、382.7 MPa和26.2%,由于晶粒及析出相形态的变化,合金塑性得到大幅改善。锻造和冷轧后合金断裂机制为韧性的微孔型断裂。析出相以Orowan强化机制增强V-5Cr-5Ti合金,以80%冷轧1000 ℃/1 h退火状态合金为例,由析出相强化获得的屈服强度增量约为50.1 MPa。     

双级时效对等温多向锻造近β钛合金显微组织和力学性能的影响

利用光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜研究新型近 βTi?4Al?1Sn?2Zr?5Mo?8V?2.5Cr(质量分数,％)合金经α+β区退火处理(ST)后进行单级时效(SA)或双级时效(DA)对显微组织演变和力学性能的影响.结果表明,与SA相比,合金经过DA处理后析出的次生α相更加细小,其主要机制为300℃预时...     

Optimization of the Mechanical Properties and Residual Stresses in 2024 Aluminum Alloy Through Heat Treatment

Residual stresses induced during quenching of aluminum alloys cause dimensional instability and distortion. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of polyalkylene glycol (PAG) quenchants on residual stresses and mechanical properties of 2024 aluminum alloy were investigated. Surface residual stresses were measured by using hole-drilling strain-gauge method. Also, mechanical properties and microstructure of the heat-treated samples were analyzed using hardness measurements, tensile tests, and transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that quenching into a 15% polymeric solution and aging at 190 °C for 12 h cause 50% reduction in residual stress as compared with quenching in water at 20 °C and naturally aging. Moreover, tensile strength decreased by 104 MPa (~?20%) in compared with the T6 sample.     

流变轧制AZ91合金的热处理和组织性能调控

本文对连续流变轧制AZ91合金在热处理过程中的组织和力学性能演化进行了研究。热处理后两种析出相在基体中出现：一种是晶界处的非连续析出相,另一种是从过饱和基体中析出的小尺寸连续析出相。随着时效温度升高,原子扩散速度也随之提高,导致更多的析出相生成和长大。合金的维氏硬度和拉伸强度峰值在16小时时效后出现,而合金的延伸率随着时效时间的延长和时效温度的提高呈下降趋势。经过对实验结果的分析,适合提升合金综合力学性能的热处理制度为415°C固溶20小时加220°C时效16小时。经热处理后得到的维氏硬度、拉伸强度和延伸率分别为：99 HV,251 MPa和4.5%,各项性能均显著优于流变轧制态合金。相对于传统成型手段,流变轧制加热处理方法成型的AZ91合金展现了优异且均衡的综合力学性能。     

Effect of Y content on microstructure and mechanical properties of 2519 aluminum alloy

The effects of yttrium（Y） content on precipitation hardening, elevated temperature mechanical properties and morphologies of 2519 aluminum alloy were investigated by means of microhardness test, tensile test, optical microscopy（OM）, transmission electron microscopy（TEM） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. The results show that the tensile strength increases from 485 MPa to 490 MPa by increasing Y content from 0 to 0.10%（mass fraction） at room temperature, and from 155 MPa to 205 MPa by increasing Y content from 0 to 0.20% at 300 ~C. The high strength of 2519 aluminum alloy is attributed to the high density of fine 0＇ precipitates and intermetallic compound AICuY with high thermal stability. Addition of Y above 0.20% in 2519 aluminum alloy may induce the decrease in the tensile strength both at room temperature （20 ℃） and 300℃.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Mg94Y4Ni2 Alloy with Long Period Stacking Ordered Structure

Microstructure and mechanical properties of the Mg₉₄Y₄Ni₂ alloy (at.%) during homogenization, extrusion, and aging processes were systematically investigated using x-ray diffractometer, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electronic universal testing machine. The results showed that the morphology evolution of 18R LPSO structure during annealing in Mg₉₄Y₄Ni₂ alloy was different from that of Mg-Y-Zn systems. The 18R-type Mg₁₂YNi phase was thermal stable and was not transformed into 14H structure when annealed at 773 K. After solution treatment at 773 K for 10 h and aging at 498 K for 24 h (T6 treatment) of the extruded alloy, a great amount of fine β′ phases were precipitated dispersedly in the matrix. The tensile tests showed that the extruded Mg₉₄Y₄Ni₂ alloy after T6 treatment exhibited good tensile properties with ultimate tensile strength of 453 MPa and elongation to failure of 2.4% at room temperature. Thus, a high-strength Mg₉₄Y₄Ni₂ alloy, which is strengthened by the coexisted LPSO phases and β′ precipitates, can be prepared via simple hot extrusion and T6 treatment.     

Effects of extrusion and heat treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–8Zn–1Al–0.5Cu–0.5Mn alloy

The effects of extrusion and heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–8Zn–1Al–0.5Cu– 0.5Mn magnesium alloy were investigated. Bimodal microstructure is formed in this alloy when it is extruded at 230 and 260 °C, and complete DRX occurs at the extruding temperature of 290 °C. The basal texture of as-extruded alloys is reduced gradually with increasing extrusion temperature due to the larger volume fraction of recrystallized structure at higher temperatures. For the alloy extruded at 290 °C, four different heat treatments routes were investigated. After solution + aging treatments, the grains sizes become larger. Finer and far more densely dispersed precipitates are found in the alloy with solution + double-aging treatments compared with alloy with solution + single-aging treatment. Tensile properties are enhanced remarkably by solution + double-aging treatment with the yield strength, tensile strength and elongation being 298 MPa, 348 MPa and 18%, respectively. This is attributed to the combined effects of fine dynamically recrystallized grains and the uniformly distributed finer precipitates.