Microstructure and mechanical properties of squeeze-cast Al−5.0Mg−3.0Zn−1.0Cu alloys in solution-treated and aged conditions

The microstructure and mechanical properties at different depths of squeeze-cast,solution-treated and aged Al−5.0Mg−3.0Zn−1.0Cu alloy were investigated.For squeeze-cast alloy,from casting surface to interior,the grain size ofα(Al)matrix and width of T-Mg32(AlZnCu)49 phase increase significantly,while the volume fraction of T phase decreases.The related mechanical properties including ultimate tensile strength(UTS)and elongation decrease from 243.7 MPa and 2.3%to 217.9 MPa and 1.4%,respectively.After solution treatment at 470℃ for 36 h,T phase is dissolved into matrix,and the grain size increases so that the UTS and elongation from surface to interior are respectively reduced from 387.8 MPa and 18.6%to 348.9 MPa and 13.9%.After further peak-aging at 120℃ for 24 h,numerous G.P.II zone andη′phase precipitate in matrix.Consequently,UTS values of the surface and interior increase to 449.5 and 421.4 MPa,while elongation values decrease to 12.5%and 8.1%,respectively.

Effects of Mg content on microstructure and mechanical properties of low Zn-containing Al-xMg-3Zn-1Cu cast alloys

Effects of Mg content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low Zn-containing Al−xMg−3Zn−1Cu cast alloys(x=3−5,wt.%)were investigated.As Mg content increased in the as-cast alloys,the grains were refined due to enhanced growth restriction,and the formation ofη-Mg(AlZnCu)_(2) and S-Al_(2)CuMg phases was inhibited while the formation of T-Mg_(32)(AlZnCu)_(49 )phase was promoted when Mg content exceeded 4 wt.%.The increase of Mg content encumbered the solution kinetics by increasing the size of eutectic phase but accelerated and enhanced the age-hardening through expediting precipitation kinetics and elevating the number density of the precipitates.As Mg content increased,the yield strength and tensile strength of the as-cast,solution-treated and peak-aged alloys were severally improved,while the elongation of the alloys decreased.The tensile strength and elongation of the peak-aged Al−5Mg−3Zn−1Cu alloy exceed 500 MPa and 5%,respectively.Precipitation strengthening implemented by T′precipitates is the predominant strengthening mechanism in the peak-aged alloys and is enhanced by increasing Mg content.

Creation of multi-frequency terahertz waves by optimized cascaded difference frequency generation

A new scheme which generates multi-frequency terahertz(THz)waves from planar waveguide by the optimized cascaded difference frequency generation(OCDFG)is proposed.A THz wave with frequencyω_(T1)is generated by the OCDFG with two infrared pump waves,and simultaneously a series of cascaded optical waves with a frequency intervalω_(T1)is generated.The THz wave with a frequency of M-timesω_(T1)is generated by mixing the m-th-order and the(m+M)-th-order cascaded optical wave.The phase mismatch distributions of cascaded difference frequency generation(CDFG)are modulated by changing the thickness of planar waveguide step by step,thereby satisfying the phase-matching condition from first-order to high-order cascaded Stokes process step by step.As a result,the intensity of THz wave can be enhanced and modulated by controlling the cascading order of OCDFG.

Effects of Solution Treatment on the Microstructure,Tensile Properties,and Impact Toughness of an Al–5.0Mg–3.0Zn–1.0Cu Cast Alloy

This study investigates the eff ect of solution treatment(at 470°C for 0–48 h)on the microstructural evolution,tensile properties,and impact properties of an Al–5.0Mg–3.0Zn–1.0Cu(wt%)alloy prepared by permanent gravity casting.The results show that the as-cast microstructure consists ofα-Al dendrites and a network-like pattern of T-Mg32(AlZnCu)49 phases.Most of the T-phases were dissolved within 24 h at 470℃;and a further prolonging of solution time resulted in a rapid growth ofα-Al grains.No transformation from the T-phase to the S-Al2CuMg phase was discovered in this alloy.Both the tensile properties and impact toughness increased quickly,reached a maximum peak value,and decreased gradually as the solution treatment proceeded.The impact toughness is more closely related to the elongation,and the relationship between impact toughness and elongation appears to obey an equation:IT=8.43 EL-3.46.After optimal solution treatment at 470℃for 24 h,this alloy exhibits excellent mechanical properties with the ultimate tensile strength,yield strength,elongation and impact toughness being 431.6 MPa,270.1 MPa,19.4%and 154.7 kJ/m^(2),which are comparable to that of a wrought Al–6.0 Mg–0.7 Mn alloy(5E06,a 5 xxx aluminum alloy).Due to its excellent comprehensive combination of mechanical properties,this cast alloy has high potential for use in components which require medium strength,high ductility and high toughness.