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Developing a high-performance Al–Mg–Si–Sn–Sc alloy for essential room-temperature storage after quenching: aging regime design and micromechanisms

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Abstract

Sn microalloying can depress the adverse effect of natural aging after quenching (i.e., room-temperature storage) of Al–Mg–Si alloys. However, the other effect of Sc micro-addition to the Al–Mg–Si–Sn alloys remains elusive. Here, the optimal room-temperature storage time, properties and micromechanisms of Al–0.43 Mg–1.2Si–0.1Sn–0.1Sc (wt%) alloy are investigated by atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), microhardness and corrosion resistance tests. The results show that the peak-aging Al–Mg–Si–Sn–Sc alloy exhibits vastly shortened peak hardening time, increased thermal stability and corrosion resistance compared with its Sc-free counterpart after a long room-temperature storage time of 1 week. Under such a designed double-stage aging regime (1-week room-temperature storage + artificial aging at 180 °C), the addition of Sc to Al–Mg–Si–Sn alloy induces a decrease in diameter but an increase in length of peak-hardening β”-based precipitates. In addition, a suppressed over-aging phase transition from Sc/Sn-containing β” to β’ is identified in the Al–Mg–Si–Sn–Sc alloy. The Sn tends to segregate to the Si site in the low-density cylinder of β” and the central site of sub-B' in the precipitate can be occupied by Sn/Sc. Further study reveals that Sc and Sn coexist in the precursors of β”. Both reduced width of precipitation free zones and protective corrosion product film easily formed on the material contribute to the improved corrosion resistance of Al–Mg–Si–Sn–Sc alloy. The results provide important insight into the development of high-performance Al alloys.

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摘要

Sn 微合金化可以抑制 Al Mg Si 合金淬火后自然时效 即室温储存 的不利影响。然而， Sc 微添加到 Al Mg Si Sn 合金的其他影响仍然是难 以捉摸的。通过原子分辨率扫描透射电镜、显微硬度和耐蚀性测试，研究了 Al 0.43Mg 1.2Si 0.1Sn 0.1Sc (wt%) 合金的最佳室温储存 时间、 性能和微观机理。结果表明 经峰时效处理的 Al Mg Si Sn Sc 合金在长时间室温储存 1 周后，其峰时效时间明显 缩短，热稳定性和耐蚀性 明显提高 在设计的双级 时效 室温储存 1 周 180 人工时效 条件下， Sc 的加入使 Al Mg Si Sn 合金的 β" 基峰硬析出相直径减小，长度 增加。此外， Al Mg Si Sn Sc 合金还发生了从含 Sc/ S n 的 β" 到 β' 的抑制过时效相变。 Sn 倾向于在 β" 低密度柱中偏析到 Si 位，析出相中 sub B 中心位置被 Sn/Sc 占据。进一步的研究表明， Sc 和 Sn 同时存在于 β" 的前 驱 体中。 Al Mg Si Sn Sc 合金的耐蚀性因 前驱晶界无析出带 宽 度减小和易在材料上形成保护腐蚀产物膜而提高。研究结果为高性能铝合金的发展提供了重要的理论依据。

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52061003 and U20A20274), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi (No. 2018GXNSFAA050012) and Guangxi Science and Technology Project (Nos. AA17204036-1, AA18118030 and AA17204100).

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  1. School of Physical Science and Technology & Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Energy Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China

    Shuai Pan, Gui-Zhen Liao, Asad Ali & Shuang-Bao Wang

  2. Key Laboratory of LCR Materials and Devices of Yunnan Province, School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China

    Xin-Jian Chen & Shuang-Bao Wang

  3. Electron Microscopy Center, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China

    Shuang-Bao Wang

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  1. Shuai Pan
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Pan, S., Chen, XJ., Liao, GZ. et al. Developing a high-performance Al–Mg–Si–Sn–Sc alloy for essential room-temperature storage after quenching: aging regime design and micromechanisms. Rare Met. 42, 3814–3828 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-023-02342-9

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