Microstructure and properties characteristic during interrupted multi-step aging in AI-Cu-Mg-Ag-Zr alloy

• Published in: 稀有金属：英文版 Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 419 - 423
• Main Author: ZHUBaohong XIONG Baiqing ZHANG Yong＇an ZHANG Jianbo WANG Feng LI Zhihui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: 中断; 多步; 微观结构; 性质; 老龄化; 透射电子显微镜; 锆合金
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185

The effects of interrupted multi-step aging on the microstructure and properties of A1-Cu-Mg-Ag-Zr alloy were studied by tensile, hardness, electrical conductivity tests and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. Interrupted multi-step aging delayed the peak aging time compared to one-step aging and kept the same levels of hardness, electrical conductivity, ultimate tensile strength （UTS）, yield strength （YS） and elongation as those of the T6 temper alloy while increased the fracture toughness notably. Ω phase and a little θ＇ phase precipitated and grew simultaneously in the process of one-step aging at 160℃. During the second-step aging at 65℃ of interrupted multi-step aging, no TEM characteristic of Ω precipitates could be found. During the third step of interrupted multi-step aging, Ω began to dominate the microstructure like what happened in the process of one-step aging. The difference of properties between the T6 temper and the interrupted multi-step aged alloys might be related to the different precipitation sequences in the process of the two heat treatment technologies.