Papers by Keyword: Age Hardening

Abstract: Al-Mg-Si-(Cu), i.e. AA6xxx, alloys are widely used light alloys which can be effectively strengthened through precipitation hardening. The final microstructure, and thus properties, of these alloys after common artificial aging treatments are largely determined by the composition-dependent nano-scale clustering and precipitation that occur during the earliest stage of aging. Therefore, multi-length scale analysis of the earliest-stage of precipitation can provide critical knowledge in understanding the basis for the microstructural evolution during aging and attaining the desired microstructures and properties. Here, we investigate the effect of alloy composition on the evolution of early-stage clusters and precipitates during aging at 180°C using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results map a sequential evolution of clusters with an FCC structure but different morphology/orientation characteristics. GP-zones with structures other than FCC, also form in the early stages of aging. The composition-dependent kinetics of β” phase precipitation and hardening behavior are discussed in light of the results from differential scanning calorimetry experiments, microhardness measurements, and conventional transmission electron microscopy.

Abstract: The effect of Cu or Ag addition on 2 step aging in Al-Mg-Si alloy has been investigated to understand precipitation for this alloy. The maximum hardness of two step aged alloy was higher with increasing pre-aging time for Al-Mg-Si alloy. There was no remarkable difference between the peak-hardness of the Ag addition alloy with and without pre-aging. The hardness decreased once for the Ag addition alloy aged at 473K just after pre-aged at 343K for 600ks and then increased to the peak hardness with increasing aging time, which means the reversion of the Ag addition alloy.

Abstract: 7000 System Al has been known as one of the aluminum alloys with the good age hardening ability and the high strength among commercial aluminum alloys. [1]In this study, hardness measurement, tensile test, SEM observation and TEM observation have been performed in order to understand the effect of Zn/Mg ratio on age hardening behaviour in Al-Zn-Mg alloys . It can be seen from hardness measurement that the alloy containing higher Zn and Mg contents became hard. Tensile test was performed for the samples of peak aged condition. It can been seen that the alloy containing higher Zn and Mg increases the tensile strength of the alloy though decrease of the elongation were observed a typical intergranular fracture. TEM observation was performed for peak aged samples. The size of precipitates became finer and the number density increased with increasing Zn and Mg contents.

Abstract: Al-Zn-Mg alloy has been known as one of the aluminum alloys with the good age-hardening ability and the high strength among commercial aluminum alloys. The mechanical property of the limited ductility, however, is required to further improvement. In this work, three alloys, which were added Cu or Ag into the Al-Zn-Mg alloy, were prepared to compare the effect of the additional elements on the aging behavior. Ag or Cu added alloy showed higher maximum hardness than Ag or Cu free alloy. The η’ phase were observed in all alloys peak-aged at 423K. According to addition of Ag or Cu, the number density of the precipitates increased than Ag or Cu free alloy.

Abstract: The aim of this work is to establish a correlation coefficient between the positron annihilation lifetime technique (PALS) and the Vickers hardness for the heat treatable aluminum alloys (6066, 6063).The potential of positron annihilation spectroscopy in the study of light alloys is illustrated with special regards to age hardening, severe plastic deformation, annealing and quenching in aluminum alloys. Vickers hardness is the standard method for measuring the hardness of metals, particularly those with extremely hard surfaces. Accordingly, a correlation coefficient of 90 % between τ and Hv is obtained. This correlation can help us to explain many behaviors of these alloys under deferent conditions.

Abstract: Effects of T6 artificial aging heat treatment on microstructure, microhardness and ultimate tensile strength of Al-4.93 wt% Si-3.47 wt% Cu alloy were investigated. The T6 age hardening treatment consists of solution treatment at 500±5°C for 8 hours followed by quenching into hot water at 80°C and artificial aging at 150, 170, 200 and 230°C for 1-48 hours followed by quenching into hot water. Microstructure was characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD and SEM revealed that the microstructure in the as-cast condition consists of primary dendritic α-Al, acicular-plate and globular forms of eutectic Si and intermetallic phases including globular Al₂Cu and a flake-shape Al₅FeSi. By T6 aging hardening, some intermetallics were dissolved and spheroidized. The volume fraction of eutectic phases in the as-cast, solution-treated, and solution-treated plus aging at 170°C for 24 hours is 17%, 12% and 10%, respectively. TEM results showed that precipitates in under-aging condition at 170° C for 6 hours are in the form of disc shape with the diameter in the range of 7-20 nm. At peak aging at 170°C for 24 hours, thin-plate precipitates with about 3-10 nm in thickness and 20-100 nm in length were found, lengthening to about 30-200 nm at longer aging time. The microhardness and ultimate tensile strength were increased from 71 HV0.05 and 227 MPa in the as-cast condition up to 140 HV0.05 and 400 MPa after solution treatment plus aging at 170°C for 24 hours, and decreased at prolong aging time.

Abstract: The Al-Mg-Si alloys, due to their unique combination of lightweight, mechanical and electrical properties and excellent corrosion resistance, are used as a material for the production of overhead power conductors, commonly known as AAAC (All Aluminium Alloy Conductor). Wires intended for conductor manufacturing are obtained from the wire rod produced by a continuous casting and rolling line (CCR, e.g., Continuus-Properzi). The Al-Mg-Si wire rod can be processed into ready-made wires by different technological routes, which mainly consist of different combinations of strain hardening as well as precipitation hardening of wire rod or wires. In Europe the conventional technological route comprises solution heat treatment of wire rod coils (heated at temperatures over ~500 °C, followed by quenching into water), then natural ageing of wire rod at ambient temperature for a couple of days, next wire drawing, and finally artificial ageing.This paper discusses results of investigations on developing an alternative technological route. In this process heat from the continuous casting and rolling process by Continuus-Properzi is used for heat treatment of the wire rod. The new technological route allows the abandonment of the high temperature heat treatment as well as natural ageing of the wire rod, making the production process less energy consuming, cheaper and faster than the conventional one. The current paper presents research results identifying the structure of materials from different Al-Mg-Si wires production process routes. It also focuses on electrical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: In the present work, age hardening behavior of CNT reinforced Al6061 and Al2124 nanocomposites, prepared by ball milling and spark plasma sintering, was investigated. The effect of CNT content, annealing time and temperature on the age hardening behavior of the nanocomposites was evaluated and compared to the monolithic alloys prepared and age hardened under the same conditions. It was found that CNTs have a negative influence on the age hardening of the alloys. The alloys displayed standard age hardening behavior i.e. a sharp increase in hardness during initial aging followed by a steady decrease in hardness. Whereas the nanocomposites did not only display initial softening during aging but also showed reduced age hardening efficiency. The hardening efficiency was found to decrease with increasing CNT content. The complicated behavior of nanocomposites was explained in terms of dislocation recovery, large thermal mismatch between matrix and CNTs and bulk microstructure of the composites.

Abstract: The main task of this study was to investigate the effect of Mg content on hardness of extruded Al-Si-Mg-Mn alloy after solution and artificial ageing heat-treatments. The Al-Si-Mg-Mn alloys with the variation of Mg content were fabricated through casting, homogenization and extrusion processes. The extruded samples were heat-treated – T6 temper. Thermal analysis with metallurgical examination was performed in order to optimize the condition of solution heat-treatment. Then, microstructure change was discussed by using optical microscopy and SEM-EDS. And the corresponding Vickers hardness was measured as a function of ageing time. It was found that the Vickers hardness slightly increased due to improved ageing efficiency and increased hard phase as the Mg content increased.

Abstract: Ageing behaviors and microstructural characterization by aging condition of Ti-Al-Mo-Fe alloy was investigated. Due to the formation of ω phase, it occurs a drastic change in mechanical properties of β alloys. There is large increasing in hardness and yield strength, accompanied with serious ductility reduction. However, it has been proved that proper control of ω phase volume fraction can bring to improve strength with a reasonable ductility. In this work new beta titanium alloy was designed and developed in Ti-Al-Mo-Fe alloy to investigate the hardening behavior of ω and α precipitation during aging. The results showed that a small amount of athermal ω was observed in the β matrix during water quenching from above the β transus temperature. Isothermal ω formation was also found during aged at temperatures ranging from 573 K to 773 K although it has a limited time of stability at 773 K. The hardening due to isothermal ω precipitation exhibits no over-aging effect as long as ω phase exists inside the matrix. The hardness of this alloy is very sensitive to size and volume fraction of ω phase and its existence, which depends on aging temperature, time and alloy compositions.