Effect of aging treatment on evolution of S'phase in rapid cold punched Al−Cu−Mg alloy

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray diffractometer(XRD),and hardness test were used to study the evolution of long plate-shaped S'phase in the spray-formed fine-grained Al−Cu−Mg alloy during aging after rapid cold punching deformation.Results show that the long plate-shaped S'phase in the extruded Al−Cu−Mg alloy undergoes evident distortion,brittle failure,separation and redissolution,during rapid cold punching deformation,leading to the transformation of long plate-shaped S'phase into short rod or even redissolution and disappearance,causing the matrix to become a supersaturated solid solution.After the aging treatment,the reprecipitation of the phases occurs,and these aging phases are mainly long plate-shaped and granular.The incompletely dissolved S'phase acts as nucleation core,promoting uphill diffusion of the surrounding solute atoms.The S'phase gradually grows with increasing the aging time.The completely dissolved S'phase forms the incoherent equilibrium phase with the matrix to reduce its free energy.After rapid cold punching,the aging response of the deformed Al−Cu−Mg alloy is accelerated,and the hardness of the alloy is substantially increased.

Effect of strain rate on microstructure and mechanical properties of spray-formed Al-Cu-Mg alloy

Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD),and tensile tests were used to study the effects of strain rates(0.1,1 and 9.1 s^(-1))on the microstructure and mechanical properties of spray-formed Al-Cu-Mg alloys during large-strain rolling at 420℃.Results show that during hot rolling,the proportion of high-angle grain boundaries(HAGBs)and the degree of dynamic recrystallization(DRX)initially increase and then decrease,whereas the average grain size and dislocation density show the opposite trend with the increase of the strain rate.In addition,the number of S′phases in the matrix decreases,and the grain boundary precipitates(GBPs)become coarser and more discontinuous as the strain rate increases.When the strain rate increases from 0.1 to 9.1 s^(-1),the tensile strength of the alloy decreases from 492.45 to 427.63 MPa,whereas the elongation initially increases from 12.1%to 21.8%and then decreases to 17.7%.

Effect of rapid cold stamping on fracture behavior of long strip S′phase in Al−Cu−Mg alloy

High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction techniques were used to study the mechanism that underlies the influence of rapid cold-stamping deformation on the fracture behavior of the elongated nanoprecipitated phase in extruded Al−Cu−Mg alloy.Results show that the interface between the long strip-shaped S′phase and the aluminum matrix in the extruded Al−Cu−Mg alloy is flat and breaks during rapid cold-stamping deformation.The breaking mechanisms are distortion and brittle failure,redissolution,and necking.The breakage of the long strip S′phase increases the contact surface between the S′phase and the aluminum matrix and improves the interfacial distortion energy.This effect accounts for the higher free energy of the S′phase than that of the matrix and creates conditions for the redissolution of solute atoms back into the aluminum matrix.The brittle S′phase produces a resolved step during rapid cold-stamping deformation.This step further accelerates the diffusion of solute atoms and promotes the redissolution of the S′phase.Thus,the S′phase necks and separates,and the long strip-shaped S′phase in the extruded Al−Cu−Mg alloy is broken into a short and thin S′phase.