《China Foundry》
Title:Effects of Cu content on microstructure and mechanical properties of rheo-diecasting Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys
Author:Zhi-guang Ding1, Sai-heng Hou2, Song Chen2, Ze-hua Liu1, Da-quan Li2, Jian Feng2, Fan Zhang2, and *Li-ming Peng1
Address: 1. National Engineering Research Center of Light Alloy Net Forming and Key State Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; 2. General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing 101407, China
Key words:Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy; rheo-diecasting; Cu content; mechanical properties; heat treatment
CLC Nmuber:TG146.21
Document Code:A
Article ID:1672-6421(2022)04-321-06
Abstract:
A systematic study on how Cu content affects the microstructure and mechanical properties of rheo-diecasting Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys during solution treatment and ageing heat treatment was conducted. The swirled enthalpy equilibrium device (SEED) was adopted to prepare the semi-solid slurry of Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys. The microstructure development and mechanical properties were studied using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as hardness and tensile testing. The grain boundary and shape factor were calculated using image processing software (Image-Pro Plus 6.0). Results show that the alloys are composed of typical globular primary α-Al grains, eutectic phases, and smaller secondary α-Al grains. After solution and ageing heat treatment, the eutectic phases are dissolved into Al matrix when the Cu content is lower than 1.5wt.%, while some eutectic phases transform into Al2CuMg (S) phases and remain at grain boundaries when Cu content reaches 2wt.%. T6 heat treatment significantly enhances the mechanical properties of rheo-diecasting Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys. When Cu concentration is 0.5wt.%-1.5wt.%, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of T6 treated alloys rise to around 500 MPa, 420 MPa, and 18%, respectively.