Microstructure evolution and optimum parameters analysis for hot working of new type Mg-8Sn-2Zn-0.5Cu alloy

The hot deformation behavior of as-solutionized Mg 8Sn 2Zn 0.5Cu(TZC820)alloy was investigated experimentally and numerically via isothermal compression tests at 250400℃and strain rate range of 0.013 s 1 on a Gleeble 1500D thermomechanical simulator.Results show that the deformation temperature and strain rate signi cantly affected ow stress and material constants.In addition,the strain-compensated constitutive relationship was established on the basis of true stress strain curves.The main deformation mechanism for this alloy was the dynamic recrystallization(DRX),and the DRX degree was effectively enhanced with an increase in deformation temperature and a decrease in strain rate.Moreover,the cellular automaton method was used to simulate the microstructure evolution during hot compression.In addition,the processing maps were established,and the optimum deformation parameters for the as-solutionized TZC820 alloy are at 370400℃and 0.01 s 1,and at 320360℃and 13 s 1.

Effect of non-isothermal retrogression and re-ageing on through-thickness homogeneity of microstructure and properties of Al-8Zn-2Mg-2Cu alloy thick plate

In order to improve the through-thickness homogeneity and properties of aviation aluminum alloy thick plate.The effect of heating-cooling retrogression and re-ageing on the performance of Al-8Zn-2Mg-2Cu alloy thick plate was investigated by hardness tests, electrical conductivity tests and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) observation.Results revealed that, during retrogression heating, the fine pre-precipitates in surface layer dissolve more and the undissolved η′ or η phases are more coarsened than that of center layer. During slow cooling after retrogression,precipitates continue coarsening but with a lower rate and the secondary precipitation occurs in both layers. Finer precipitates resulting from the secondary precipitation are more in surface. However, the coarsening and secondary precipitation behaviors are restrained in both layers under quick cooling condition. The electrical conductivity and through-thickness homogeneity of precipitates increases while the hardness decreases with cooling rate decreasing. After the optimized non-isothermal retrogression and re-ageing(NRRA) including air-cooling retrogression, the throughthickness homogeneity which is evaluated by integrated retrogression effects has been improved to 94%. The tensile strength, fracture toughness and exfoliation corrosion grade of Al-8Zn-2Mg-2Cu alloy plate is 619 MPa, 24.7 MPa·m^(1/2)and EB, respectively, which indicates that the non-isothermal retrogression and re-aging(NRRA) could improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance with higher through-thickness homogeneity.

Residual stress and precipitation of Mg-5Zn-3.5Sn-1Mn-0.5Ca-0.5Cu alloy with different quenching rates

The effect of the quenching rate after solution treatment on the residual stress and precipitation behavior of a high strength Mg-5 Zn-3.5 Sn-1 Mn-0.5 Ca-0.5 Cu plate is studied.The simulation results show decreasing temperature gradient in the plate with decreasing quenching rate,which leads to weakened inhomogeneous plastic deformation and decreased residual stress.No dynamic precipitation on the grain boundary happens after either cold water cooling or air cooling,however,air cooling leads to dynamic precipitation of Mg-Zn phase on Mn particles around which a low-density precipitate zone develops after aging treatment.Moreover,the fine and densely distributed Mg-Zn precipitates observed after aging treatment of the cold water cooled alloy are replaced by coarse precipitates with low density for the air cooled alloy.Both the low-density precipitate zone near Mn particles and the coarsening of precipitates are the source of the decrease in hardness and tensile properties of the air cooled alloy.The residual stress drops faster than the hardness with decreasing quenching rate,which makes it possible to lower the residual stress without sacrificing too much age-hardening ability of the alloy.

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.

Thermal stability of discontinuous precipitation in the Al-Zn-(Cu) system

The coarsening mechanism and kinetics of discontinuous precipitation (DP) in Al-Zn-(Cu) alloys were studied by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results show that the coarsening mechanism is different as the aging temperature varies. At a low temperature (150℃), the coarsening occurs through the dissolution and spheroidization of fine laminar structure of DP; at high temperatures (above 200℃), the discontinuous coarsening (DC) of DP microstructure mainly occurs, forming coarsening cells with a larger laminar distance. The growth velocity of coarsening cells rapidly reaches the maximum, and then decreases with the increase of time. The coarsening velocity of DP microstructure decreases due to the addition of Cu element.

Microstructure and yield phenomenon of an extruded Mg-Y-Cu alloy with LPSO phase

A yield phenomenon was firstly reported in an extruded Mg-6.8Y-2.5Cu alloy and the corresponding microstructure was also investigated in this work,The cast alloy is mainly composed ofα-Mg,18R long period stacking order(LPSO)phase,eutectic phase(Mg_(20)Cu_(4)Y_(1)),and Mg_(2)Cu phase.The 18R LPSO phase at the dendritic grain boundary transforms into the 14H LPSO phase in the grain interior during homogenization.After extrusion,the grain size of the homogenized alloy is remarkably refined to-3.69μm and the second phase is significantly broken and distributed in the extrusion direction.Tensile testing curves of the extrude alloy at room temperature indicate that the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength increase while the elongation of the alloy decreases with increasing strain rate.Interestingly,a yield plateau fo rms and gradually decreases with increasing strain rate.The yield phenomenon is related to the dislocation multiplication and the interaction between the movable dislocations and solute atoms.