Abstract
An abnormally coarsened grain structure after brazing can negatively affect the in-service performance of a brazed heat exchanger. One of the numerous beneficial effects from the Sc addition to aluminum is its retardation effect on recrystallization and grain growth. In this work, dilute Al–0.07Sc and Al–0.07Sc–0.09Zr alloys were assessed with respect to the hot deformation and the post-brazing grain structure and compared with the base 1xxx alloy. The flow curves of the hot compression tests showed that the Al–Sc–Zr alloys exhibited higher flow stresses compared to the base alloy. The microstructure of the deformed samples in all three investigated alloys exhibited a recovered microstructure, but both Sc-containing alloys showed an improvement in the resistance to dynamic recovery. EBSD maps after a high temperature simulated brazing showed that the microstructure of the base alloy suffered from abnormal grain growth. Severe grain coarsening was still observed in the recrystallized microstructure of Al–0.07Sc alloy after brazing. The combined addition of Sc and Zr in Al–0.07Sc–0.09Zr alloy suppressed the abnormal grain growth, showing an improved control on the brazed microstructure. After post-braze aging at 350 °C for 4 h, the hardness of both Sc-containing alloys increased by 90–122% relative to the base alloy hardness.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
C. Balaji, B. Srinivasan, and S. Gedupudi, “Chapter 7 - Heat exchangers,” in Heat Transfer Engineering, C. Balaji, B. Srinivasan, and S. Gedupudi, Eds. Academic Press, 2021, pp. 199–231.
Y. S. Kim et al., “Improvement of corrosion penetration resistance for aluminum heat exchanger by alloying zirconium,” Mater. Chem. Phys., vol. 241, no. June 2019, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2019.122275.
K. Li, T. Zou, D. Li, Y. Peng, D. Shu, “On Formation of Abnormally Large Grains in Annealing Prestrained Aluminum Alloy Multiport Extrusion Tubes,” Metall. Mater. Trans. A, vol. 50, no 12, pp. 5734–5749, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-019-05453-0.
K. Li, D. Li, T. Zou, D. Shu, D. Tang, and Y. Peng, “Strength Variation in Processing Multiport Extrusion Tubes of A1100 and A3102 Alloys,” J. Mater. Eng. Perform., vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 3576–3589, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-019-04132-w.
J. C. GUÍA-TELLO, M. I. PECH-CANUL, E. TRUJILLO-VÁZQUEZ, and M. A. PECH-CANUL, “Effect of brazing parameters on fillet size and microstructure of cladded fin-microchannel tube joints,” Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China (English Ed., vol. 30, no. 12, pp. 3240–3253, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(20)65457-7.
Y. Tu, Z. Tong, and J. Jiang, “Effect of Microstructure on Diffusional Solidification of 4343/3005/4343 Multi-Layer Aluminum Brazing Sheet,” Metall. Mater. Trans. A, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 1760–1766, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-012-1550-5.
Fang, W., Chen, X., Tang, D., Wang, H., Li, D., Peng, Y, “Effects of Residual Strain on Grain Growth of Extruded Aluminum Micro-channel Tubes During Heat Treatment,” in Forming the Future, 2021, pp. 1903–1912.
F. F. Kraft, “Method for Predicting and Optimizing the Strength of Extruded Multi-Void Aluminum Heat Exchanger Tube,” SAE Trans., vol. 111, pp. 99–106, Aug. 2002, [Online]. Available: http://www.jstor.org/stable/44719187.
D. Tang, X. Fan, W. Fang, D. Li, Y. Peng, and H. Wang, “Microstructure and mechanical properties development of micro channel tubes in extrusion, rolling and brazing,” Mater. Charact., vol. 142, no. April, pp. 449–457, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2018.06.010.
J. Royset, “Scandium in Aluminium alloys overview: Physical Metallurgy, Properties and applications,” Metall. Sci. and Technology, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 11–21, 2007.
J. Røyset and N. Ryum, “Kinetics and mechanisms of precipitation in an Al-0.2wt.% Sc alloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, vol. 396, no. 1–2, pp. 409–422, 2005, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2005.02.015.
T. Dorin, M. Ramajayam, and T. J. Langan, “Impact of Scandium and Zirconium on extrudability, microstructure and hardness of a binary Al-Cu alloy,” Mater. Today Proc., vol. 10, pp. 242–247, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2018.10.402.
B. Forbord, W. Lefebvre, F. Danoix, H. Hallem, and K. Marthinsen, “Three dimensional atom probe investigation on the formation of Al3(Sc,Zr)-dispersoids in aluminium alloys,” Scr. Mater., vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 333–337, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2004.03.033.
C. B. Fuller, D. N. Seidman, and D. C. Dunand, “Mechanical properties of Al(Sc,Zr) alloys at ambient and elevated temperatures,” Acta Mater., vol. 51, no. 16, pp. 4803–4814, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(03)00320-3.
Z. H. Jia, J. Royset, J. K. Solberg, and Q. Liu, “Formation of precipitates and recrystallization resistance in Al-Sc-Zr alloys,” Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China (English Ed., vol. 22, no. 8, pp. 1866–1871, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(11)61399-X.
S. Babaniaris, M. Ramajayam, L. Jiang, R. Varma, T. Langan, and T. Dorin, “Effect of Al3(Sc,Zr) dispersoids on the hot deformation behaviour of 6xxx-series alloys: A physically based constitutive model,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, vol. 793, no. May, p. 139873, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2020.139873.
K. B. Hyde, A. F. Norman, and P. B. Prangnell, “The effect of cooling rate on the morphology of primary Al3Sc intermetallic particles in Al-Sc alloys,” Acta Mater., vol. 49, no. 8, pp. 1327–1337, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(01)00050-7.
E. A. Marquis, D. N. Seidman, and D. C. Dunand, “Effect of Mg addition on the creep and yield behavior of an Al-Sc alloy,” Acta Mater., vol. 51, no. 16, pp. 4751–4760, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(03)00288-X.
Y. Deng, Z. Yin, K. Zhao, J. Duan, and Z. He, “Effects of Sc and Zr microalloying additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of new Al–Zn–Mg alloys,” J. Alloys Compd., vol. 530, pp. 71–80, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2012.03.108.
C. Shi and X. G. Chen, “Effect of Zr addition on hot deformation behavior and microstructural evolution of AA7150 aluminum alloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, vol. 596, pp. 183–193, Feb. 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2013.12.057.
S.-I. Fujikawa, M. Sugaya, H. Takei, and K.-I. Hirano, “Solid solubility and residual resistivity of scandium in aluminum,” J. Less Common Met., vol. 63, no. 1, pp. 87–97, 1979, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5088(79)90211-X.
V. V Zakharov, “About Alloying of Aluminum Alloys with Transition Metals,” Met. Sci. Heat Treat., vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 67–71, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11041-017-0104-2.
H. J. McQueen, S. Spigarelli, M. E. Kassner, and E. Evangelista, Hot Deformation and Processing of Aluminum Alloys. Taylor & Francis, 2011.
M. Shakiba, N. Parson, and X. G. Chen, “Effect of Iron and Silicon Content on the Hot Compressive Deformation Behavior of Dilute Al-Fe-Si Alloys,” J. Mater. Eng. Perform., vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 404–415, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-014-1302-3.
J. Lai, C. Shi, and X. G. Chen, “Effects of v addition on recrystallization resistance of 7150 aluminum alloy after simulative hot deformation,” Mater. Charact., vol. 96, pp. 126–134, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2014.07.028.
V. V. Zakharov and T. D. Rostova, “Effect of scandium, transition metals, and admixtures on strengthening of aluminum alloys due to decomposition of the solid solution,” Met. Sci. Heat Treat., vol. 49, no. 9–10, pp. 435–442, 2007, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11041-007-0082-x.
C. Shi and X.-G. Chen, “Effect of vanadium on hot deformation and microstructural evolution of 7150 aluminum alloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, vol. 613, pp. 91–102, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2014.06.082.
K. B. Hyde, A. F. Norman, and P. B. Prangnell, “The effect of cooling rate on the morphology of primary Al3Sc intermetallic particles in Al–Sc alloys,” Acta Mater., vol. 49, no. 8, pp. 1327–1337, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(01)00050-7.
C. Shi, J. Lai, and X.-G. Chen, “Microstructural Evolution and Dynamic Softening Mechanisms of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy during Hot Compressive Deformation,” Materials (Basel)., vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 244–264, 2014, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7010244.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) under the Grant Number CRDPJ 514651-17 and Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l'aluminium (CQRDA) under the Project 1065 and Rio Tinto Aluminum.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
About this paper
Cite this paper
Bakr, A., Rometsch, P., Chen, XG. (2024). Hot Deformation Behavior and Post-brazing Grain Structure of Dilute Al–(Sc–Zr) Alloys for Brazed Heat Exchangers. In: Wagstaff, S. (eds) Light Metals 2024. TMS 2024. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50308-5_143
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50308-5_143
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-50307-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-50308-5
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)