A Precipitate-Strengthening Model Based on Crystallographic Anisotropy, Stress-Induced Orientation, and Dislocation of Stress-Aged Al-Cu-Mg Single Crystals

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between inhomogeneously distributed S precipitates and hardness of stress-aged single-crystal Al-Cu-Mg. First, the effect of crystallographic anisotropy is considered and modeled from the results of free-stress aged single-crystal Al-1.2Cu-0.5Mg with ($1\bar{1}8$), ($\bar{1}\bar{2}5$), (356), and (319) plane orientations. Effect of crystallographic anisotropy depends on the angle between the plane orientation of the single crystal and {012} habit planes of the S precipitates. Second, the effects of the magnitude of the applied stress and direction on the S-laths’ size and distribution are considered. As the applied stress-induced S-laths inhomogeneously distribute during aging, the effect of the single-crystal’s orientation on the distribution of S-laths is modeled. The results show that a single crystal near (111) plane orientation has the lowest stress-orienting effect. Finally, at higher applied stresses, such as 50 MPa, the S precipitates disperse more homogeneously due to the influence of the dislocations. Inhibiting the effect of dislocation depends on the angle between the plane orientation of the single crystal and the {111} dislocation slide planes. A precipitate-strengthening model of the stress-aged Al-Cu-Mg alloys is established based on crystallographic anisotropy, stress-orienting precipitates, and inhibiting the effect of dislocations.