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Variation in the microstructure and mechanical properties of permanent mold cast Al–3Li–2Mg–0.1Zr alloy with Zn addition

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Abstract

In this research, microstructure characterization, phase analysis and tensile tests were performed to investigate the influence of Zn content upon permanent mold cast Al–3Li–2Mg–0.1Zr alloy. Results showed that the most significant grain refinement was caused by 1 wt% Zn as constitutional undercooling was increased with Zn addition and decreased with the formation of (Al, Zn)49Mg32 phases. To dissolve second phases in as-cast alloys, including Al3Li, Al12Mg17, Al2MgLi, AlLi and (Al, Zn)49Mg32, three-stage solution treatment (500 °C/10 h + 535 °C/10 h + 560 °C/20 h) was designed. After quenching and artificial aging for 8 h at 175 °C, Al–3Li–2Mg–1Zn–0.1Zr alloy presented the optimum comprehensive mechanical properties. The elongation, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength reached 6.9%, 221 MPa and 351 MPa, respectively. The performance improvement with Zn addition was mainly attributed to grain refinement and solution strengthening, while the composition of precipitates was almost unaffected.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51871148 and 51821001) and the United Fund of National Department of Education and Equipment Development (No. 6141A02033245). The authors are also grateful for the funding support by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2016YFB0301003).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Chunchang Shi, Guohua Wu, Liang Zhang, Xiaolong Zhang, Jiangwei Sun, Jinshuo Zhang & Yixiao Wang

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Correspondence to Guohua Wu or Liang Zhang.

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Shi, C., Wu, G., Zhang, L. et al. Variation in the microstructure and mechanical properties of permanent mold cast Al–3Li–2Mg–0.1Zr alloy with Zn addition. Journal of Materials Research 36, 2071–2082 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00236-z

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