Relating fractographic analysis to yield strength of novel X7475 (Al–Zn–Mg–Cu) alloys produced by recycling aluminium beverage cans

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 262; p. 127067
• Main Authors: Kazeem, Abubakar, Badarulzaman, Nur Azam, Wan Ali, Wan Fahmin Faiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminum industry; Beverage cans; Cast; Copper; Defects; Fractograph; Heat treating; Heat treatment; Magnesium; Materials science; Particles; Precipitates; Substrates; Yield strength; Yield stress; Zinc; Cast; Fractograph; Yield strength; Particles; Defects
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2019.127067

[Display omitted] •A new aluminium alloy was cast from recycled beverage can (RBC) using stir casting method.•Precipitation hardening and artificial aging treatments were done at 475 °C and 145 °C respectively.•Postmortem of the nature of fracture and substrates was conducted.•Peak yield strength (σy) of 117.200 MPa and least of 51.212 MPa were recorded with an average extension (e) of 0.197 mm. The aim of this letter was to conduct a postmortem on the nature of fracture, substrates and possible precipitates formed in a novel experimental 7xxx alloy cast from recycled beverage cans (RBCs) and link same to yield strength (σy) following heat treatment (HT). Fractographic investigation revealed the formation of dendrites and hardening phases such as MgZn2 and Al2Mg3Zn3 among others, following HT. An alloy S10 recorded the peak σy of 117.200 MPa while S3 was the least with 51.212 MPa and extension (e) of 0.197 mm.