Quantitative contributions of solution atoms, precipitates and deformation to microstructures and properties of Al-Sc-Zr alloys

In order to investigate the effects of solid solution atoms, precipitated particles and cold deformation on the microstructures and properties of Al-Sc-Zr alloys, the Al-Sc-Zr alloys prepared by continuous rheo-extrusion were treated by thermomechanical treatment, analyzed for conductivity and mechanical properties by tensile and microhardness testing, and characterized using optical microscope, TEM and STEM. A mathematical model was established to quantitatively characterize the contribution of solid solution atoms, precipitates and cold deformation to the conductivity of the alloy. The results show that the strength of Al alloy can be significantly improved by solid solution, aging and cold deformation, and the quantitative impacts of solution atoms, precipitates and cold deformation on the conductivity of Al alloy are 10.5%(IACS), 2.3%(IACS) and 0.5%(IACS), respectively. Aging and cold deformation treatments are the keys to obtain high-strength and high-conductivity aluminum alloy wires.

Finite element analysis of temperature and stress fields during selective laser melting process of Al−Mg−Sc−Zr alloy

A 3D finite element model was established to investigate the temperature and stress fields during the selective laser melting process of Al−Mg−Sc−Zr alloy.By considering the powder−solid transformation,temperaturedependent thermal properties,latent heat of phase transformations and molten pool convection,the effects of laser power,point distance and hatch spacing on the temperature distribution,molten pool dimensions and residual stress distribution were investigated.Then,the effects of laser power,point distance and hatch spacing on the microstructure,density and hardness of the alloy were studied by the experimental method.The results show that the molten pool size gradually increases as the laser power increases and the point distance and hatch spacing decrease.The residual stress mainly concentrates in the middle of the first scanning track and the beginning and end of each scanning track.Experimental results demonstrate the accuracy of the model.The density of the samples tends to increase and then decrease with increasing laser power and decreasing point distance and hatch spacing.The optimum process parameters are laser power of 325−375 W,point distance of 80−100μm and hatch spacing of 80μm.

Flow stress behavior of Al-Cu-Li-Zr alloy containing Sc during hot compression deformation

The flow stress behavior of Al-3.5Cu-1.5Li-0.25(Sc+Zr) alloy during hot compression deformation was studied by isothermal compression test using Gleeble-1500 thermal-mechanical simulator. Compression tests were preformed in the temperature range of 653-773 K and in the strain rate range of 0.001-10 s-1 up to a true plastic strain of 0.7. The results indicate that the flow stress of the alloy increases with increasing strain rate at a given temperature,and decreases with increasing temperature at a given imposed strain rate. The relationship between the flow stress and the strain rate and the temperature was derived by analyzing the experimental data. The flow stress is in a hyperbolic sine relationship with the strain rate,and in an Arrhenius relationship with the temperature,which imply that the process of plastic deformation at an elevated temperature for this material is thermally activated. The flow stress of the alloy during the elevated temperature deformation can be represented by a Zener-Hollomon parameter with the inclusion of the Arrhenius term. The values of n,α and A in the analytical expressions of flow stress σ are fitted to be 5.62,0.019 MPa-1 and 1.51×1016 s-1,respectively. The hot deformation activation energy is 240.85 kJ/mol.

Semisolid slurry of 7A04 aluminum alloy prepared by electromagnetic stirring and Sc, Zr additions

Slurry preparation is one of the most critical steps for semisolid casting, and its primary goal is to prepare slurry with uniformly distributed fine globules. In this work, electromagnetic stirring(EMS) and the addition of Sc and Zr elements were used to prepare semisolid slurry of 7A04 aluminum alloy in a large diameter slurry maker. The effects of different treatments on the microstructure, composition and their radial homogeneity were investigated. The results show that, compared to the slurry without any treatment, large volume slurry with finer and more uniform microstructure can be obtained when treated by EMS, Sc, or Zr additions individually. EMS is more competent in the microstructural and chemical homogenization of the slurry while Sc and Zr additions are more excellent in its microstructural refinement. The combined treatment of EMS, Sc and Zr produces premium 7A04 aluminum alloy slurry with uniformly distributed fine α-Al globules and composition. The interaction mechanism between EMS and Sc and Zr additions was also discussed.

Preparation of Scandium Bearing Master Alloys by Aluminum Magnesium Thermoreduction

The new preparation method of scandium bearing master alloys, in which scandium oxide was fluorinated by reaction with NH 4HF 2 and then reduced by aluminum magnesium in fused salt containing alkali and alkaline fluoride under atmosphere, was studied. The effect of sorts of metallic reductive and technique conditions such as reducing temperature and time on the recovery of Sc was discussed. When the liquid aluminum magnesium was used as the reductive agent, the all recovery exceeds 80% and the concentration of Sc in master alloy prepared exceeds 1.9%. The best reducing reaction temperature and time are 1100 K and 40 min respectively. The newly produced Sc from reduction combines with Al to produce the stable compound Al 3Sc, so the reduction progress is sustained and the recovery of Sc is increased.

Effect of scandium on superplasticity of Al-Mg alloys

The superplastic behavior of adding 0.22%Sc into the Al 6Mg alloy was studied by simple superplastic pretreatment process—warm rolling and cold rolling. The optimum superplastic temperature and strain rate of the alloys were defined and satisfactory results were obtained during the superplastic deformation at 811 K and initial strain rate 0=1.67×10 -3 s -1 . The average elongation of Al 6Mg 0.22Sc alloys reaches to 1 125%, and the maximum elongation is 1 200%, maximum m value (strain rate sensitive index) is 0.879. But under the same condition the elongation and maximum m value for Al 6Mg alloy were only 377% and 0.595, respectively. The superplastic deforming mechanism for Al 6Mg 0.22Sc alloys was also discussed. [

Preparation, microstructure and properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Sc alloy tubes

The Al-6.0Zn-2.0Mg-0.2Sc-0.10Zr hollow tube ingots, prepared by semi-continuous casting technology, were subjected to ho- mogenization treatment, hot extrusion, intermediate annealing, tension, solution and aging treatment. The microstructures and properties of as-cast Al-Zn-Mg-Sc alloy at different homogenization treatment conditions were studied using hardness measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The results showed th...

Formation and Relative Stabilities of Core-Shelled L12-Phase Nano-structures in Dilute Al–Sc–Er Alloys

First-principles thermodynamic calculations were carried out at the interface level for understanding the precipitation of coherent L12-phase nano-structures in dilute Al–Sc–Er alloys.All energetics,relevant to bulk substitution,interface formation,interfacial coherent strain and segregation,were calculated and used to evaluate the nucleation and relative stabilities of various possible L12 nano-structures.Only matrix-dissolved solute Er(or Sc)can substitute Sc(or Er)in L12-Al3Sc(or Al3Er).The inter-substitution between L12-Al3Sc and Al3Er is not energy feasible.Ternary L12-Al3(Er x Sc 1.x)precipitates tend to form the Al3Er-core and Al3Sc-shell structure with a sharp core/shell interface.Three possible formation mechanisms were proposed and examined.The eff ects of Er/Sc ratio and aging temperature on the relative stabilities of L12-phase nanostructures in Al were also discussed.

Laser powder bed fusion of high-strength Sc/Zr-modified Al–Mg alloy:phase selection,microstructural/mechanical heterogeneity,and tensile deformation behavior

Laser powder bed fusion(L-PBF)of Sc/Zr-modified Al-based alloys has recently become a promising method for developing a new generation of high-performance Al alloys.To clarify the modification roles of Sc/Zr elements,an Al–4.66Mg–0.48Mn–0.72Sc–0.33Zr(wt.%)alloy was processed using L-PBF.The effect of the local solidification condition of the molten pool on the precipitation behavior of primary Al_(3)(Sc,Zr)was analyzed based on time-dependent nucleation theory.It was found that primary Al_(3)(Sc,Zr)inevitably precipitated at the fusion boundary,while its precipitation could be effectively suppressed in the inner region of the molten pool.This subsequently induced the formation of a heterogeneousα-Al matrix.After direct aging,the heredity of solidification microstructure introduced heterogeneous secondary Al_(3)(Sc,Zr)precipitates withinα-Al matrix.Owing to the inverse relationship between grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening,the direct-aged sample with dual heterogeneous structures exhibited reduced mechanical heterogeneity,resulting in lowered hetero-deformation-induced hardening.The low strain-hardening capability in the direct-aged sample promoted necking instability while inducing a large Lüders elongation,which effectively improved the tensile ductility.