Yunlai Deng

Effect of step-quenching on microstructure of aluminum alloy 7055

Abstract The effect of step-quenching on the microstructure of aluminum alloy 7055 after artificial aging was studied by hardness testing and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Step-quenching leads to decomposition of solid solution and heterogeneous precipitation of equilibrium phase mainly on dispersoids and at grain boundaries; thus lower hardness after aging. Prolonging isothermal holding at 415 °C results in coarser and more spaced η phase particles at grain boundaries with wider precipitates free zone, and lower density of larger η ′ hardening precipitates inside grains after aging. Isothermal holding at 355 °C results in heterogeneous precipitation of η phase both on dispersoids and at grain boundaries. Isothermal holding at 235 °C results in heterogeneous precipitation of η phase first, and then S phase. Precipitates free zones are created around these coarse η and S phase particles after aging. Prolonging isothermal holding at these two temperatures leads to fewer η ′ hardening precipitates inside grains, larger and more spaced η phase particles at grain boundaries and wider grain boundary precipitates free zone after aging.

Creep age forming of 2124 aluminum alloy with single/double curvature

Abstract In order to investigate the springback rules, the variation characteristics of physical property and microstructure in bending creep age forming process, a series of creep forming tests of 2124 aluminum alloy were conducted based on three kinds of single and double curvature forming tools. The results show that the spingback rate would be the minimum under the optimal coupling conditions among the temperature, aging time and internal stress state of material. Difference exists in the two directions of the formed sample with double curvature, but the curvature variation keeps the same. Yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and fracture toughness of the double curvature formed sample appear to be higher than those of the single curvature formed sample under the same aging condition, but the elongation and the anisotropy are opposite.

Modification of Mg2Si in Mg-Si alloys with neodymium

Abstract The modification effect of neodymium (Nd) on Mg2Si in the hypereutectic Mg-3%Si (mass fraction) alloy was investigated by optical microcopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that the morphology of the primary Mg2Si transforms from coarse dendrite into fine polygon with increasing Nd content. The average size of the primary Mg2Si significantly decreases to about 10 μm with increasing Nd content up to 1.0%, and then becomes coarser again. The modification and refinement of the primary Mg2Si are mainly attributed to the poisoning effect. The NdMg2 phase in the primary Mg2Si transforms into NdSi and NdSi2 compounds as the Nd content exceeds 3.0%. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the proper Nd (1.0%) addition can effectively modify and refine the primary Mg2Si.

Simulation of rolling deformation texture of fcc metals with crystal plasticity finite element model

Abstract A rate dependent crystal plasticity constitutive model with respect to self-hardening and latent hardening in finite element (FE) analysis is developed to simulate rolling texture in the present paper. The influence of grain interaction is modelled by different assignment of orientations to FEs. The simulation results reveal that the grain interaction will lead to mesoscale inhomogeneous deformation and that grains rotate faster in the extended Taylor type crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) model without consideration of grain interaction than in the full CPFE model with grain interaction. The rotation of grain boundary is slowed down owing to the grain interaction. Assigning more elements to one grain, in which both the boundary and interior of grain are simulated, better simulation results can be obtained.

Effect of homogenization time on quench sensitivity of 7085 aluminum alloy

The effect of homogenization time on quench sensitivity of a cast 7085 aluminum alloy was investigated by means of end-quenching test, optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results show that with the increase of homogenization time from 48 h to 384 h, quench sensitivity increased slightly as the largest difference in the hardness was increased from 5.2% to 6.9% in the end-quenched and aged specimens. Prolonging homogenization had little effect on the grain structure, but improved the dissolution of soluble T phase and resulted in larger Al3Zr dispersoids with a low number density. Some small quench-induced η phase particles on Al3Zr dispersoids were observed inside grains during slow quenching, which decreased hardness after subsequent aging. The change in the character of Al3Zr dispersoids exerted slight influence on quench sensitivity.

Precipitation orientation effect of 2124 aluminum alloy in creep aging

Abstract The precipitation behaviors of 2124 aluminum alloy under the conditions of artificial aging (AA), creep aging (CA) and creep aging with pre-deformation (PCA) were investigated by means of mechanical property and microstructure. The results show that the mechanical properties of CA treated sample decrease significantly compared with AA treated sample. The yield strength of the CA treated sample falls by 14%, the tensile strength falls by 6.2%, and the elongation falls by 21%. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of PCA sample are improved obviously, close to the AA treated sample. Moreover, the generation and control mechanisms of the precipitation orientation effect in 2124 aluminum alloy were studied. It is deduced that the key mechanism lies in the effect of dislocation.

Precipitation behavior in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy after direct quenching

The precipitation behavior in an Al-6.8Zn-1.9Mg-1.0Cu-0.12Zr alloy after direct quenching from solution heat treatment temperature of 470 °C to 205–355 °C was investigated by means of hardness tests, electrical conductivity tests, and transmission electron microscopy. At temperatures below 265 °C, the hardness increased gradually to a peak value and then decreased rapidly with time. At 265 °C, the hardness was almost unchanged within the initial 2000 s and then decreased gradually. At higher temperatures, the hardness decreased slowly with time. The electrical conductivity started to increase after a certain period of time and then tended to maintain a constant value at all temperatures. Microstructure examination indicated heterogeneous precipitation of the η phase at grain boundaries and inside grains during holding at 205 °C and 325 °C. Based on the electrical conductivity data, the precipitation kinetics could be described quite well by the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Komolgorov relationship with a n value varying between 0.78 and 1.33. The activation energy was estimated to be about 44.9 kJ/mol, which is close to that expected for a dislocation diffusion mechanism. Time-temperature-transformation diagrams were constructed and the nose temperature ranged from 295 °C to 325 °C.

Grain structure effect on quench sensitivity of Al—Zn—Mg—Cu—Cr alloy

Abstract The effect of grain structure on quench sensitivity of an Al—Zn—Mg—Cu—Cr alloy was investigated by hardness testing, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The results show that with the decrease of quenching rate from 960 °C/s to 2 °C/s, the hardness after aging is decreased by about 33% for the homogenized and solution heat treated alloy (H-alloy) with large equiaxed grains and about 43% for the extruded and solution heat treated alloy (E-alloy) with elongated grains and subgrains. Cr-containing dispersoids make contribution to about 33% decrement in hardness of the H-alloy due to slow quenching; while in the E-alloy, the amount of (sub) grain boundaries is increased by about one order of magnitude, which leads to a further 10% decrement in hardness due to slow quenching and therefore higher quench sensitivity.

Critical quenching rate for high hardness and good exfoliation corrosion resistance of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy plate

By means of the end-quenching technique, we investigated the relationship between quenching rate and hardness as well as exfoliation corrosion rating for Al-2.21 Zn-3.59 Mg-0.45 Cu-0.038 Zr (at%) alloy plate. In order to achieve an exfoliation corrosion rating of P or EA, the quenching rate must be greater than approximately 460 °C/min and 300 °C/min, respectively, and the drop degree in hardness should simultaneously be lower than approximately 2.0% and 3.5%, respectively. The results of microstructural and microchemical examination using a scanning transmission electron microscope indicate that a lower quenching rate leads to a higher content of Zn, Mg, and Cu in the grain-boundary particles and a greater width of precipitate-free zones near grain boundaries; therefore, grain-boundary particles with Zn and Mg contents less than approximately 13.39% and 10.23% (at%), respectively, and precipitate-free zones near grain boundaries with widths less than about 107 nm can contribute to an exfoliation corrosion rating better than EA. The amount of quench-induced η-phase particles, which lead to lower hardness, increases with decreasing quenching rate, and the area fraction of these particles is approximately 2.9% at a quenching rate of 300 °C/min.

A Precipitate-Strengthening Model Based on Crystallographic Anisotropy, Stress-Induced Orientation, and Dislocation of Stress-Aged Al-Cu-Mg Single Crystals

We investigate the relationship between inhomogeneously distributed S precipitates and hardness of stress-aged single-crystal Al-Cu-Mg. First, the effect of crystallographic anisotropy is considered and modeled from the results of free-stress aged single-crystal Al-1.2Cu-0.5Mg with (