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Influence of minor Sc additions on grain refinement and microstructure characteristics of a high Zn-containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy

高 Zn 含量 Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr 合金中添加微量 Sc 后的晶粒细化及显微特征

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Abstract

In the present work, scandium elements with a series of contents (0.06 wt.%, 0.10 wt.%, 0.14 wt.%, 0.17 wt.%, 0.20 wt.% and 0.25 wt.%) were added in a high Zn-containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy and the corresponding as-cast microstructure characteristics including grains and phases were thoroughly investigated. The results indicated that fine grain boundaries existed in these alloys and fine MgZn2 phases discontinuously distributed on them. Besides, AlZnMgCu eutectic phases and Sc, Zr-containing phases with flocculent morphology were observed. As scandium contents vary from 0.06 wt.% to 0.17 wt.%, the average grain size continuously decreased and its equiaxial characteristics were strengthened. Meanwhile, the content of AlZnMgCu eutectic phase showed a decrease trend. When scandium contents were 0.20 wt.% and 0.25 wt.%, no further enhancement on grain refinement was observed, so as to the reduction of AlZnMgCu eutectic phase content. Besides, Sc, Zr-containing phases with blocky morphology were observed and the alloy with a scandium content of 0.25 wt.% possessed a larger amount of blocky Sc, Zr-containing phase than the alloy with a scandium content of 0.20 wt.%. Grain refinement and reduction of AlZnMgCu eutectic phase content associated with scandium addition were discussed.

摘要

本文在一种高Zn含量Al-9.2Zn-2.0Mg-1.0Cu-0.11Zr合金中添加一系列的微量Sc元素(0.06 wt.%, 0.10 wt.%, 0.14 wt.%, 0.17 wt.%, 0.20 wt.%和0.25 wt.%), 研究了包含晶粒及第二相在内的铸态组织特征. 结果表明, 组织中出现细晶界, MgZn2相在该晶界上不连续分布. 此外, 发现了AlZnMgCu共晶相和具有絮状形貌的含Sc、 Zr相. 当Sc元素含量从0.06 wt.%增加到0.17 wt.%时, 平均晶粒尺寸持续降低, 晶粒趋于等轴. 同时, AlZnMgCu共晶相含量呈降低趋势. 当Sc元素含量为0.20 wt.%和0.25 wt.%时, 没有发现更进一步的晶粒细化效果, 且AlZnMgCu共晶相含量不再降低. 此外, 组织中出现具有块状形貌的含Sc、 Zr相, 且Sc元素含量为0.25 wt.%的合金中块状含Sc、 Zr相的数量多于Sc元素含量为0.20 wt.%的合金. 本文进一步讨论了添加Sc元素对细化晶粒及AlZnMgCu共晶相含量减少的影响.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metals and Processes, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100088, China

    Kai Wen  (温凯), Xi-wu Li  (李锡武), Bai-qing Xiong  (熊柏青), Zhi-hui Li  (李志辉), Yong-an Zhang  (张永安) & Ya-nan Li  (李亚楠)

  2. GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing, 101407, China

    Kai Wen  (温凯), Xi-wu Li  (李锡武), Yong-an Zhang  (张永安) & Ya-nan Li  (李亚楠)

  3. General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, China

    Kai Wen  (温凯), Xi-wu Li  (李锡武), Bai-qing Xiong  (熊柏青), Zhi-hui Li  (李志辉), Yong-an Zhang  (张永安) & Ya-nan Li  (李亚楠)

  4. Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd., Harbin, 150060, China

    Hong-lei Liu  (刘洪雷) & Ying-jun Wang  (王英君)

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  1. Kai Wen  (温凯)
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Contributions

The overarching research goals were developed by WEN Kai. LI Xi-wu and XIONG Bai-qing provided the measurements of grain size and grain shape deviation, and analyzed the measurement data. LIU Hong-lei and WANG Ying-jun participated in the preparation of ingots and samples. LI Zhi-hui and ZHANG Yong-an provided the observation data from scanning electron microscope. The initial draft of the manuscript was written by WEN Kai and LI Ya-nan. All authors replied to reviewers’ comments and revised the final version.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xi-wu Li  (李锡武) or Bai-qing Xiong  (熊柏青).

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Foundation item: Projects(2020YFB0311400ZL, 2020YFF0218202) supported by the National Key R&D Program of China; Project supported by Youth Fund Project of GRINM Group Co., Ltd., China

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Wen, K., Li, Xw., Xiong, Bq. et al. Influence of minor Sc additions on grain refinement and microstructure characteristics of a high Zn-containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy. J. Cent. South Univ. 29, 780–794 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-022-4979-8

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