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Effect of trace additions of Sn on precipitation kinetics and microstructural phases of Al–Cu–Mg alloys

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Abstract

The precipitation and dissolution kinetics of cast and solutionized Al–6.2wt%Cu–0.6wt%Mg alloys microalloyed with varying contents of Sn was investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed from 50 to 550 °C at four different heating rates. Exothermic peak within intermediate temperature range of 200–300 °C of DSC heating cycle represented the precipitation reaction. Endothermic drift at elevated temperatures corresponded to melting of alloy phases. Peak temperatures increased with increase in heating rate, indicating precipitation reaction to be kinetically controlled. The kinetic rate equation governing exothermic precipitation peaks was modelled using a new analytical technique. Activation energy and kinetic parameters were determined for the alloys, and effect of Sn concentrations was investigated. Functional forms of mole fraction transformed were optimized. Predicted transformation rate calculated using the kinetic rate equation and evaluated kinetic parameters, was successfully compared with experimental data with fairly good accuracy. To identify possible precipitating crystalline phase(s), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed on age-hardened alloys. DSC and XRD results were further corelated with microstructural characterization of morphology and composition of different phases, as studied by SEM and EDS analysis. Microalloying with Sn up to 0.06 wt% was observed to kinetically favor the precipitation reaction, as evident from increased growth in θ-crystal size, increased volume fraction of microstructural θ-phase, decrease in peak temperature and lower values of activation energy. Trace additions of Sn revealed considerable potential to control precipitation kinetics, activation energy, precipitating phases, and respective microstructural evolution of the investigated Al–Cu–Mg alloy system.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, for the useful assistance in various experimental procedures. Authors further express their gratitude to the Department of Physics and Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Centre (SAIC), Tezpur University, for analyzing XRD results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, 784028, India

    Sanjib Banerjee, Sanjib Gogoi & Sumit Bhowmick

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    P. S. Robi

  3. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    A. Srinivasan

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  1. Sanjib Banerjee
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  2. P. S. Robi
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Correspondence to Sanjib Banerjee.

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Banerjee, S., Robi, P.S., Srinivasan, A. et al. Effect of trace additions of Sn on precipitation kinetics and microstructural phases of Al–Cu–Mg alloys. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 135, 1853–1874 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-022-02234-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-022-02234-6

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