Simultaneously Improved Bendability and Strength of Al–Mg–Si–Cu–Zn Alloys by Controlling the Formation and Evolution of Primary Fe-Rich Phase

In present work, the formation, evolution, and distribution of the primary Fe-rich phase in an Al–Mg–Si–Cu–Zn–Fe–Mn alloy are coupling controlled by ultrasonic melt treatment (USMT) and thermomechanical processing (TMP). It is shown in the results that the size of grains and Fe-rich phase in the as-cast state can be greatly reduced by the...

Synergistic improvement in bake-hardening response and natural aging stability of Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Zn alloys via non-isothermal pre-aging treatment

A new non-isothermal pre-aging treatment was proposed and utilized in Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Zn alloys, together with natural aging and artificial aging. The influence of cooling rates on subsequent precipitation behaviors was investigated by experimental and thermodynamic simulations. The results show that by controlling the formation of clusters/GP...

Tuning homogenization of high-strength aluminum alloys through thermodynamic alloying approach

The alloy design and homogenization processes are intimately associated with the microstructure, phase composition and performance for Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys. The microstructures and phase composition of a series of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys before and after the homogenization treatments were investigated along with thermodynamic calculation to...

Synergy of Sn micro-alloying and thermomechanical processing on formability and precipitation behavior of Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Zn alloys

The effect of Sn micro-alloying on microstructure evolution, formability and precipitation behaviour of Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Zn alloys were systematically studied by experimental techniques and theoretical calculations. Results show that Sn addition can accelerate both the precipitation and re-dissolution of the Fe-rich phase during casting and...

Synergy of Ni micro-alloying and thermomechanical processing in Al–Mg–Si–Cu–Zn–Fe–Mn alloys with enhanced bendability

Synergy of Ni micro-alloying and thermomechanical processing on the phase distribution, formability and bendability of Al–Mg–Si–Cu–Zn–Fe–Mn alloys was systematically studied in this paper. With the addition of micro-alloying Ni, the Ni-containing Fe-rich phase can be formed, which not only serves as nucleation sites of Mg–Si precipitates ...

Recent advances in hot tearing during casting of aluminium alloys

Hot tearing is one of the most severe and irreversible casting defects for many metallic materials. In 2004, Eskin et al. published a review paper in which the development of hot tearing of aluminium alloys was evaluated (Eskin and Suyitno, 2004). Sixteen years have passed and this domain has undergone considerable development. Nevertheless,...

Fast age-hardening response of Al–Mg–Si–Cu–Zn–Fe–Mn alloy via coupling control of quenching rate and pre-aging

The coupling control of quenching rate and pre-aging and its positive effect on the age-hardening response of Al–Mg–Si–Cu–Zn–Fe–Mn alloy was systematically investigated. The larger and more stable solute clusters can be formed in alloy with fast age-hardening response by using the lower quenching rate (5.3 °C/min) and an appropriate pre-aging...