Effect of minor Sc and Zr addition on microstructure and properties of ultra-high strength aluminum alloy

The Al-9Zn-2.8Mg-2.5Cu-xZr-ySc alloys （x=0, 0.15%, 0.15%; y=0, 0.05%, 0.15%）, produced by low-frequent electromagnetic casting technology, were subjected to homogenization treatment, hot extrusion, solution and aging treatment. The effects of minor Sc and Zr addition on microstructure, recrystallization and properties of alloys were studied by optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The results show that Sc and Zr addition can refine grains of the as-cast alloy by precipitation of primary Al3（Sc,Zr） particles formed during solidification as heterogeneous nuclei. Secondary Al3（Sc,Zr） precipitates formed during homogenization treatment strongly pin the movement of dislocation and subgrain boundaries, which can effectively inhibit the alloys recrystallization. Compared with the alloy without Sc and Zr addition, the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy with 0.05%Sc and 0.15%Zr shows the increase in tensile strength and yield strength by 172 MPa and 218 MPa, respectively. Strengthening comes from the contributions of precipitation, substructure and grain refining.

Recrystallization of Al-5.8Mg-Mn-Sc-Zr alloy

Al-5.8Mg-0.4Mn-0.25Sc-0.1Zr （mass fraction, %） alloys were prepared by water chilling copper mould ingot metallurgy processing which was protected by active flux. The recrystallization temperature and nucleation mechanism of the alloy were studied by means of hardness tests, observations of optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the anti-crystallization ability can be significantly improved by adding minor Sc and Zr into Al-Mg-Mn alloy. This can be proved by a much higher recrystalliztion temperature （450 ~C） than Al-Mg-Mn alloy without Sc and Zr （150 ℃）. The main reason of the great increase of recrystallization temperature can be attributed to the strong pinning effect of highly disperseded Al3（Sc,Zr） particles on dislocations and sub-grain boundaries. The recrystallizing process reveals itself the nucleation mechanism of the alloy involving not only the sub-grain coalescence but also the sub-grain growth.

Microstructural evolution of new type Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy with Er and Zr additions during homogenization

A comprehensive study on the microstructural evolution of a new type Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Er-Zr alloy duringhomogenization was conducted by optical microscope,scanning electron microscope,transmission electron microscopy and X-raydiffraction analysis.The results show that serious segregation exists in as-cast alloy,and the primary phases are T(AlZnMgCu),S(Al2CuMg)and Al8Cu4Er,which preferentially locate in the grain boundary regions.The soluble T(AlZnMgCu)and S(Al2CuMg)phases dissolve into the matrix gradually during single-stage homogenized at465°C with prolonging holding time,but the residualAl8Cu4Er phase cannot dissolve completely.Compared with the single-stage homogenization,both a finer particle size and a highervolume fraction of L12-structured Al3(Er,Zr)dispersoids can be obtained in the two-stage homogenization process.A suitablehomogenization scheme for the present alloy is(400°C,10h)+(465°C,24h),which is consistent with the results of homogenizationkinetic analysis.

Investigation on Reaction Interface between the Aluminum and K2ZrF6 by Freezing the Molten Salt Reaction

A reaction interface between the aluminum and K_2ZrF_6 during molten salt reaction process was frozen by quenching the mold in water, and the interface structure was analyzed to determine the formation process of Al_3Zr. Results show that a clear conical interface existed between the K_2ZrF_6 and aluminum. A zirconium accumulation layer with the thickness of about 2–3 lm was formed at the aluminum side of the interface. Many initially formed Al_3Zr particles（with the size of 0.4–16 lm） distributed in this layer, most of which located at the interface. The morphology of Al_3Zr particles is closely related with their size. For the size of 0.4–1 lm, the Al_3Zr appeared as globular and ellipsoid shapes. When it grew to the size of 1–2 and 2–16 lm, it exhibited the rule cube shape, and rule cuboids shape, respectively.