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Title: An investigation of microstructural stability in an Al-Mg alloy with submicrometer grain size

Journal Article · · Acta Materialia
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka (Japan). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
  2. Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa (Russian Federation). Inst. for Metals Superplasticity Problems
  3. Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

The microstructural stability of an Al-3%Mg solid solution alloy with a submicrometer-grained (SMG) structure ({approximately}0.2 {micro}m) was evaluated using both static annealing and transmission electron microscopy over a range of temperatures from 443 to 803 K and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) up to 773 K. The results show that the SMG structure contains many non-equilibrium grain boundaries but recrystallization occurs at the higher temperatures giving large grains with boundaries having high-angle equilibrium configurations. There are significant differences between the DSC curves of the SMG alloy and a standard cold-rolled Al-3%Mg alloy, due primarily to the advent of significant heat release at low temperatures in the SMG alloy because of recovery at the non-equilibrium grain boundaries. A temperature of {approximately}500 K, close to half the absolute melting temperature, represents an effective upper limit for utilization of the SMG structure in this material.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
264112
Journal Information:
Acta Materialia, Vol. 44, Issue 7; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English