Early Stages of Precipitation in Mould-Cast, Cold-Rolled and Heat-Treated Aluminium Alloy AA7075 with Sc,Zr-Addition
V. Kodetová, M. Vlach, J. Čížek, M. Cieslar, L. Bajtošová, H. Kudrnová, M. Leibner, V. Šíma
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Ke Karlovu 3, 121 16 Prague, Czech Republic
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Precipitation reactions of the commercial Al-Zn-Mg-Cu(-Sc-Zr) alloy in mould-cast, cold-rolled, and heat-treated states were characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, microhardness testing, and positron annihilation spectroscopy. The distinct changes in microhardness curves as well as in a heat flow of the alloys studied are mainly caused by dissolution of clusters and precipitation of particles from the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu system. An easier diffusion of Zn, Mg, and Cu atoms along dislocations is responsible for the precipitation of Zn,Mg,Cu-containing particles at lower temperatures compared to the mould-cast alloys The mould-cast and cold-rolled alloys contain solute clusters rich in Mg and Zn. Clusters formed in the heat-treated alloys during natural ageing have similar composition but in addition to Mg and Zn contain also Cu. The Cu-concentration increases with increase of period of natural ageing. The mould-cast state after natural ageing contain in addition to solute agglomerates also vacancy clusters formed by agglomeration of thermal vacancies. Addition of Sc and Zr results in a higher hardness above ~270° due to a strengthening by Al3(Sc,Zr) particles with a good thermal stability. Sc and Zr have probably no influence on the evolution of solute clusters.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.137.250
PACS numbers: 81.30.Mh, 81.40.Cd, 84.37.+q, 68.37.Lp