Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

On the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Al−2Li−2Cu−0.5 Mg alloy: the role of Yb additions

  • Metals & corrosion
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Potential industrial applications of high-performance cast Al−Li−Cu−(Mg) alloys micro-alloyed with Sc have been strongly limited due to the extremely high production cost and scarcity of Sc. This work aimed at evaluating the effect of substituting Yb for Sc on the microstructure characteristics, age-hardening response and mechanical performances of cast Al−2Li−2Cu−0.5 Mg−0.2Zr alloy. Varied Yb additions were tried (0%, 0.1wt%, 0.2wt%) and results indicated that no appreciable grain refinement was achieved in alloys modified with Yb, accompanied with the absence of coarse primary phases. Dissolution of Cu-rich secondary phases during solution treatment was markedly retarded as the Yb addition increased to 0.2wt%. Nucleation of Al3Li on Al3(Yb, Zr) led to the significant reduction in the strain energy change (ΔGS) and interfacial energy. The addition of 0.1wt% Yb resulted in the accelerated age-hardening response and promoted precipitation of L12-structured nanometric core–shell Al3Li/Al3(Yb, Zr) precipitates, which acted as preferential nucleation sites for T1 and S′ phases. As a result, a better mechanical characteristics and microstructural stability was obtained in alloy with 0.1Yb addition compared with the base alloy. Moreover, as compared to the Sc-modified alloy, a small reduction in mechanical properties was achieved in 0.1Yb alloy accompanied with significant reduction in production cost, revealing the feasibility of substituting Yb for Sc.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17
Figure 18

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, books and news in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

Data availability

The raw data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also form part of an ongoing study.

References

  1. Rioja RJ, Liu J (2012) The evolution of Al-Li base products for aerospace and space applications. Metall Mater Trans A 43:3325–3337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-012-1155-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dursun T, Soutis C (2014) Recent developments in advanced aircraft aluminium alloys. Mater Design 56:862–871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2013.12.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang P, Chen M (2020) Progress in characterization methods for thermoplastic deforming constitutive models of Al–Li alloys: a review. J Mater Sci 55:9828–9847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04682-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang X, Zhang L, Wu G, Shi C, Zhang J (2019) Influences of Mg content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of cast Al–2Li–2Cu–0.2Zr alloy. J Mater Sci 54:791–811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2826-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen A, Zhang L, Wu G, Sun M, Liu W (2017) Influences of Mn content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of cast Al-3Li-2Cu-0.2Zr alloy. J Alloys Compd 715:421–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.05.030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang X, Zhang L, Wu G, Sun J, Rong M, Hsieh C-C, Yu Y (2018) Influence of Sc content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Al-2Li-2Cu-0.5Mg-0.2Zr alloy. Mater Charact 142:223–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2018.05.046

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Shi C, Zhang L, Wu G, Zhang X, Chen A, Tao J (2016) Effects of Sc addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Al-3Li-1.5Cu-0.15Zr alloy. Mater Sci Eng A 680:232–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2016.10.063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Yang C, Zhang P, Shao D, Wang RH, Cao LF, Zhang JY, Liu G, Chen BA, Sun J (2016) The influence of Sc solute partitioning on the microalloying effect and mechanical properties of Al-Cu alloys with minor Sc addition. Acta Mater 119:68–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2016.08.013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Du H, Zhang S, Zhang B, Tao X, Yao Z, Belov N, van der Zwaag S, Liu Z (2021) Ca-modified Al–Mg–Sc alloy with high strength at elevated temperatures due to a hierarchical microstructure. J Mater Sci 56:16145–16157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06310-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Norman AF, Prangnell PB, McEwen RS (1998) The solidification behaviour of dilute aluminium–scandium alloys. Acta Mater 46:5715–5732. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(98)00257-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Røyset J, Ryum N (2005) Scandium in aluminium alloys. Int Mater Rev 50:19–44. https://doi.org/10.1179/174328005X14311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Shi C, Wu G, Zhang L, Zhang X, Sun J, Zhang J, Li L (2021) Microstructure and mechanical properties of casting Al-3Li-2Mg-1Zn-0.1Zr alloys modified by Sc additions. J Alloys Compd 885:161106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.161106

  13. Karnesky RA, van Dalen ME, Dunand DC, Seidman DN (2006) Effects of substituting rare-earth elements for scandium in a precipitation-strengthened Al–0.08at. %Sc alloy. Scripta Mater 55:437–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2006.05.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Tuan NQ, Pinto AMP, Puga H, Rocha LA, Barbosa J (2014) Effects of substituting ytterbium for scandium on the microstructure and age-hardening behaviour of Al–Sc alloy. Mater Sci Eng A 601:70–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2014.02.042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Monachon C, Krug ME, Seidman DN, Dunand DC (2011) Chemistry and structure of core/double-shell nanoscale precipitates in Al–6.5Li–0.07Sc–0.02Yb (at.%). Acta Mater 59:3398–3409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2011.02.015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Krug ME, Dunand DC, Seidman DN (2011) Effects of Li additions on precipitation-strengthened Al–Sc and Al–Sc–Yb alloys. Acta Mater 59:1700–1715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2010.11.037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang X, Zhang L, Wu G, Liu W, Shi C, Tao J, Sun J (2017) Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of cast Al-2Li-2Cu-0.5Mg-0.2Zr alloy during heat treatment. Mater Charact 132:312–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2017.08.027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wu G, Zhang X, Zhang L, Wang Y, Shi C, Li P, Ren G, Ding W (2021) An insight into the precipitate evolution and mechanical properties of a novel high-performance cast Al-Li-Cu-Mg-X alloy. J Alloys Compd 875:159996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.159996

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Gregson P, Dinsdale K, Harris S, Noble B (1987) Evolution of microstructure in Al–Li–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys. Mater Sci Technol 3:7–13. https://doi.org/10.1179/mst.1987.3.1.7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gayle FW, Vander Sande JB (1984) “Composite” precipitates in an Al-Li-Zr alloy. Scr Metall 18:473–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/0036-9748(84)90424-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Radmilovic V, Ophus C, Marquis EA, Rossell MD, Tolley A, Gautam A, Asta M, Dahmen U (2011) Highly monodisperse core-shell particles created by solid-state reactions. Nature Mater 10:710–715. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3077

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Prasad KS, Mukhopadhyay AK, Gokhale AA, Banerjee D, Goel DB (1994) δ Precipitation in an Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy. Scri Metall Mater 30:1299–1304. https://doi.org/10.1016/0956-716X(94)90262-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Silcock JM (1959) The structural ageing characteristics of Al-Cu-Li alloys. J Inst Metals 88:357–364

    Google Scholar 

  24. Prasad NE, Gokhale AA, Wanhill RJH, (2013) Aluminum-Lithium Alloys: Processing, Properties, and Applications, Butterworth-Heinemann

  25. Knipling KE, Dunand DC, Seidman DN (2006) Criteria for developing castable, creep-resistant aluminum-based alloys–a review. Z Metallkd 97:246–265. https://doi.org/10.3139/146.101249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Yang Y, Licavoli JJ, Hackney SA, Sanders PG (2021) Coarsening behavior of precipitate Al3(Sc, Zr) in supersaturated Al-Sc-Zr alloy via melt spinning and extrusion. J Mater Sci 56:11114–11136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-05981-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Booth-Morrison C, Seidman DN, Dunand DC (2012) Effect of Er additions on ambient and high-temperature strength of precipitation-strengthened Al–Zr–Sc–Si alloys. Acta Mater 60:3643–3654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2012.02.030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ovri H, Lilleodden ET (2015) New insights into plastic instability in precipitation strengthened Al–Li alloys. Acta Mater 89:88–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2015.01.065

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Davydov VG, Rostova TD, Zakharov VV, Filatov YA, Yelagin VI (2000) Scientific principles of making an alloying addition of scandium to aluminium alloys. Mater Sci Eng A 280:30–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00652-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Gable BM, Zhu AW, Csontos AA, Starke EA Jr (2001) The role of plastic deformation on the competitive microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of a novel Al–Li–Cu–X alloy. J Light Met 1:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1471-5317(00)00002-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Zhu Q, Lu Y, Xu X, Hu N (2020) Influence of multi-axial compression pre-treatment on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu–Li alloy during aging. J Mater Sci 55:7052–7065. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04494-w

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gregson PJ, Flower HM (1985) Microstructural control of toughness in aluminium-lithium alloys. Acta Metall 33:527–537. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-6160(85)90095-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Flower HM, Gregson PJ (1987) Solid state phase transformations in aluminium alloys containing lithium. Mater Sci Technol 3:81–90. https://doi.org/10.1179/mst.1987.3.2.81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Srinivasan S, Desch PB, Schwarz RB (1991) Metastable phases in the Al3X (X = Ti, Zr, and Hf) intermetallic system. Scri Metall Mater 25:2513–2516. https://doi.org/10.1016/0956-716X(91)90059-A

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Gschneidner KA, Calderwood FW (1989) The Al-Yb (Aluminum-Ytterbium) system. Bull Alloy Phase Diagrams 10:47–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02882175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Makin PL, Ralph B (1984) On the ageing of an aluminium-lithium-zirconium alloy. J Mater Sci 19:3835–3843. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00980745

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research derived financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51871148 and 51821001) and the Laboratory Innovative Research Programme of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Research Center of Light Alloy Net Forming and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaolong Zhang, Guohua Wu, Liang Zhang, Guangling Wei, He Xie, Fangzhou Qi & Baode Sun

  2. Shanghai Spaceflight Precision Machinery Institute, Shanghai, 201600, People’s Republic of China

    Song Pang

Authors
  1. Xiaolong Zhang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guohua Wu
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Liang Zhang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Song Pang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guangling Wei
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. He Xie
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fangzhou Qi
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Baode Sun
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaolong Zhang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Handling Editor: P. Nash.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 1654 KB)

Appendix

Appendix

Additional necessary information for the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of base and 0.2Sc alloys is provided in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, X., Wu, G., Zhang, L. et al. On the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Al−2Li−2Cu−0.5 Mg alloy: the role of Yb additions. J Mater Sci 57, 3688–3708 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06762-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06762-9