Microstructural evolution of spray-formed Al-11.5Zn-2.0Mg-1.6Cu alloy during hot-extrusion and heat-treatment

Al-11.5Zn-2.0Mg-1.6Cu alloy was synthesized by spray forming(SF)technique followed by hot extrusion and heat-treatment.Its microstructural evolution was investigated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)with energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS)and X-ray diffraction(XRD)in the whole process.The curve of hardness as a function of aging time was obtained at 120℃.Test results indicate that the grain morphology is equiaxed and uniform in the central region of the spray-formed billet,but fine and irregular in the bottom and top regions.Both the grain boundary and the intragranular phases are identified as MgZn_(2) intermetallics.Hot extrusion promotes the refinement of the microstructure.Grain boundary phase disappears,meanwhile,η-phase(MgZn_(2))and Al_(3)Zr particles precipitate from the matrix after extrusion.The alloy reaches its maximum hardness after being aged at 120℃for 14 h,associated with a massive precipitation of intermediateη′-phase (MgZn)in the matrix.