Effects of Zn addition on the age hardening behavior and precipitation evolution of an Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy
- State Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metals and Processes, General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing 100088 (China)
Highlights: • The Zn addition enhances the age hardening response of Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy. • The major of Zn remains in the Al matrix during artificial aging at 170 °C. • The Zn addition prompts the formation of solute clusters, GP zones and β″ precipitates. - Abstract: The effects of Zn on the age hardening behavior and corresponding microstructure of an Al-0.9Mg-0.8Si-0.2Cu (wt%) alloy were investigated by hardness testing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP). During aging for up to 8 h at 170 °C (peak hardness condition), the addition of Zn does not alter the precipitation sequence of the Al-Mg-Si alloy, which can be expressed as: supersaturated solid solution → solute clusters → GP zones → β″. The Zn does not significantly partition into clusters or precipitates, and the majority of Zn remains in the Al matrix, prompting the formation of solute clusters during the early stage of aging and subsequently stimulating the transformation from solute clusters to GP zones to β″ precipitates. The characterization of precipitation evolution caused by Zn addition correlates well with the observed enhanced age hardening response.
- OSTI ID:
- 22805857
- Journal Information:
- Materials Characterization, Vol. 145; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Microstructure, precipitates and hardness of selectively laser melted AlSi10Mg alloy before and after heat treatment
Pre-precipitate clusters and precipitation processes in Al-Mg-Si alloys