Papers by Keyword: Two-Step Aging

Abstract: Al-7mass%Si-0.3mass%Mg alloy is widely applied to the automotive components, such as road wheel or suspension frame because of having higher ductility and corrosion resistance. Two-step aging behavior of solution treated Al-7mass%Si-0.3mass%Mg system alloy A356 cast into permanent mold and solution treated was investigated by micro-vickers hardness measurement, optical microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microstructure of as-cast state was consist of primary crystallized α-Al and secondary crystallized eutectic phases. Al-7mass%Si-0.3mass%Mg alloy after casting, the test specimens were heat treated for different pre-aging temperatures at 273K, 348K and 423K for various times after solution treatment at 813K for 36ks. After pre-aging treatment, the test specimens were heat treated for artificial aging at 523K for various times. The peak hardness increased almost the same value when the pre-aging temperature was 273K. On the other hands, positive effect of the final-aging was occurred after pre-aging at 348K and 423K with significantly increasing hardness in the under-aging region. The fine precipitates were observed in the specimen which was final aging at 523K after pre-aging at 348K and 423K.Such a positive effect is considered due to the influence of precipitated phase mainly such as clusters and /or G.P.zone.The present study aims to investigate the effect of pre-aged temperature on final-aged behavior in A356 system alloy.

Abstract: The influence of four parameters of two-step aging on the mechanical properties of 6082 aluminum alloy bumper was studied by orthogonal test. The results show that compared with the single stage aging, the two-step aging process can reduce the aging time and improve the production efficiency under the premise of the mechanical properties of the bumper meet the requirements. Among the four aging process parameters, the second stage aging temperature and holding time are the main factors that affect the final results, while the first stage aging temperature and holding time are secondary factors. The most suitable aging process parameters for the 6082 aluminum alloy bumper is (150 °C, 2 h) + (190 °C, 2.5 h). After two-step aging, the grain of the aluminum bumper is small and evenly distributed, leading to good mechanical properties. The generalized experiment shows that the application of the two-step aging process still has some limitations and needs to be further optimized and perfected.

Abstract: In this paper, the effect of two-step aging treatment on microstructure and fracture toughness of 7085 aluminum alloy were investigated by using tear tests to carry out the fracture toughness tests of the alloy and using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to analyze the microstructure. The results showed the main precipitates in the alloy were GP zones and η' phases in the grains after 118°C/6h aging treatment. With further secondary aging treatment, grain boundaries precipitates (GBPs) grew up, and the precipitate-free zone (PFZ) showed up, the increasing proportion of intergranular failure was occurred and the fracture toughness decreased. With further prolonging of the secondary aging treatment time, precipitates in the grains tended to be coarser, the GBPs became discontinuous ,PFZ became wider, and there were decreasing proportion of the intergranular failure and increasing proportion of the transgranular failure showing on the fracture morphologies, the fracture toughness of 7085 aluminum alloy increased.

Abstract: The characteristic age-hardening response of Al-3.0Mg-1.0Cu (mass%) alloys with and without Ag addition has been investigated by the hardness measurement, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electrical resistivity measurement. The alloy compositions locating in the (α+S+T) phase field of the Al-Mg-Cu phase diagram are known to be effective to harden in two stages separated by a distinct and often prolonged hardness plateau. The first stage of hardening occurs very rapidly (e.g. within 60 s at 443 K) and contributes to increase hardness as much as 50 % of the total age-hardening. In the Ag-added alloy, the hardness change during the first stage of hardening is larger and the plateau stage is shortened as a result of the fast arrival at the second stage of hardness. Small amount of Ag changes the age hardening response of the Base alloy dramatically. In the low temperature aging, the incubation stage at which no clear hardness and electrical resistivity increase appears for a long period before the first stage of hardening. After the pre-aging at this incubation period, a characteristic two-step aging response is observed. The peak hardness dramatically changes in the Al-3.0Mg-1.0Cu alloy, while no clear change in the Ag-added alloy.

Abstract: The experiment has studied the mechanical properties effect of rare earth(RE)-7075 Al alloy＇s hot rolled sheet and cold rolled sheet coursing by two-step aging treatment. The hot rolled sheet and cold rolled sheet were analyzed by EDS(energy dispersive spectrometer), SEM(scanning electron microscope) and tested by Brinell Hardness tester, Computer-controlled electronic universal testing. The results shows that the synthetical mechanical properties of hot rolled sheet exceeds cold rolled sheet. The tensile strength is higher approximately 80MPa, elongation is larger approximately 3% and Brill hardness is bigger approximately 30HB after the two-step aging treatment.

Abstract: The effects of two-step aging temperature on exfoliation corrosion of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy were characterized by EXCO test, electrochemical test and TEM observations. Results suggested that the partial recrystallized structure is susceptible to exfoliation corrosion which is greatly influenced by intergranular corrosion. The transfer current of the sample aged at 170°C (second-step aging temperature) is higher than that of the sample aged at 155°C. The second-step aging temperature exhibits more contributation to the exfoliation corrosion in this investigation, compared to the first-step aging temperature.

Abstract: This experiment has taken a research on the conductivity changes of 7075 aluminum alloy after being extruded and two-step aging treatment,and has done a analysis on the theory and rules of the impact on conductivity performance under the two-step aging treatment.Compared to cast aluminum alloy and extruded aluminum alloy without two-step aging process,the experiment showed that extruded alloy with two-step aging treatment has the highest conductivity about 44% IACS, 33.3% more than under casting condition and 22.2% more than only being extruded.

Abstract: Effect of two-step deforming and aging process on the properties and structure of Cu-Cr-Zr-Mg-Si alloy was investigated. The results show under the condition of same cold deformation, two-step deforming and aging processes can improve overall performance of the alloy. The hardness obtained by two-step deforming and aging process is higher 6%-9% than that by single-step deforming and aging. The hardness and conductivity are up to 160HV and 88.1% IACS respectively after 80 % rolling and reaging at 480°C for 30min. The particles precipitate along the dislocation and pin on the dislocation during the reaging. These finer particles distribute more uniformly in the copper matrix and result in the higher strength and electrical conductivity.

Abstract: Precipitation behavior of a metastable β Ti alloy, Ti-6.8Mo-4.5Fe-1.5Al(masss%), during two-step aging has been investigated. Supersaturated β phase after solution treatment decomposes into β+ω phases during the first aging at 300°C for 2ks. β′ phase is observed during the second aging at 500°C for 50s. It is suggested that reverse transformation of the ω phase to β phase during the second aging at 500°C for 50s gives rise to solute-lean and –rich regions in the β phase, and that β′ phase is formed in the solute-rich region. β′ phase being coherent with β phase has larger lattice parameter than β phase. β′ phase acts as nucleation site for α phase, and accelerates the nucleation of α phase.

Abstract: The formation of nano-scale clusters (nanoclusters) prior to the precipitation of the strengthening b” phase significantly influences two-step aging behavior of Al-Mg-Si alloys. In this work, the existence of two kinds of nanoclusters has been verified in the early stage of phase decomposition by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP). Pre-aging treatment at 373K before natural aging was also found to form preferentially one of the two nanoclusters, resulting in the remarkable restoration of age-hardenability at paint-bake temperatures. Such microstructural control by means of optimized heat-treatments; i.e. nanocluster assist processing (NCAP), possesses great potential for enabling Al-Mg-Si alloys to be used more widely as a body-sheet material of automobiles.