The role of Si in determining the stability of the θ; precipitate in Al-Cu-Mn-Zr alloys

Shower, Patrick T.; Poplawsky, Jonathan D.; Bahl, Sumit; Shyam, Amit

doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.158152

The role of Si in determining the stability of the θ; precipitate in Al-Cu-Mn-Zr alloys

Journal Article · Wed May 05 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Journal of Alloys and Compounds

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.158152· OSTI ID:1813264

Shower, Patrick T. ^[1]; ^[2]; Bahl, Sumit ^[2]; ^[1]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Precipitate-strengthened Al-Cu-Mn-Zr (ACMZ) alloys demonstrate improved microstructural stability compared to conventional Al-Cu alloys. Si is typically considered an impurity in these alloys, but a systematic analysis of ACMZ alloys with a range of Si levels revealed that there is a Si content range (~0.05 wt. % < Si < ~0.10 wt. %) for achieving optimal high temperature microstructural stability. A combination of hardness testing, scanning electron microscopy, and atom probe tomography has been used to understand the relationship between Si content, aging response, and thermal stability in ACMZ alloys. It is shown that the optimum Si content range corresponds to a reduced as-aged hardness, but a greater hardness value retained by the alloy after thermal exposure to 350 °C for 200 hours. A mechanism is proposed in which optimum Si levels reduce the number density of nucleation sites for θ' precipitates, resulting in larger precipitates that, on average, provide a reduced as-aged strength but are more coarsening resistant. This inherent θ' coarsening resistance allows more time for slow-diffusing Mn and Zr to reach the θ' interface and further stabilize the precipitates. Designing the optimal as-aged microstructure for improved thermal stability of the alloy by controlling impurity levels is a concept that has implications beyond the investigated Al-Cu alloy system.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1813264

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1809664

Journal Information:: Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Journal Name: Journal of Alloys and Compounds Journal Issue: N/A Vol. 862; ISSN 0925-8388

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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