Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of Solute Clusters Associated with Bake-Hardening Response in Isothermal Aged Al-Mg-Si Alloys Using a Three-Dimensional Atom Probe

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Temporal changes in the number density, size distribution, and chemical composition of clusters formed during natural aging at room temperature and pre-aging at 363 K (90 °C) in an Al-0.62Mg-0.93Si (mass pct) alloy were evaluated using atom probe tomography. More than 10 million atoms were examined in the cluster analysis, in which about 1000 clusters were obtained for each material after various aging treatments. The statistically proven records show that both number density and the average radius of clusters in pre-aged materials are larger than in naturally aged materials. It was revealed that the fraction of clusters with a low Mg/Si ratio after natural aging for a short time is higher than with other aging treatments, regardless of cluster size. This indicates that Si-rich clusters form more easily after short-period natural aging, and that Mg atoms can diffuse into the clusters or possibly form another type of Mg-Si cluster after prolonged natural aging. The formation of large clusters with a uniform Mg/Si ratio is encouraged by pre-aging. It can be concluded that an increase of small clusters with various Mg/Si ratios does not promote the bake-hardening (BH) response, whereas large clusters with a uniform Mg/Si ratio play an important role in hardening during the BH treatment at 443 K (170 °C).

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D.J. Lloyd: Advances in Industrial Materials, D.S. Wilkinson and W.J. Poole, eds., Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum, Montreal, Canada, 1998, pp. 3–17.

  2. S. Pogatscher, H. Antrekowitsch, H. Leitner, T. Ebner, and P.J. Uggowitzer: Acta Mater., 2011, vol. 59, pp. 3352-63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. G.A. Edwards, K. Stiller, G.L. Dunlop and M.J. Couper: Acta Mater., 1998, vol. 46, pp. 3893-904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Banhart, M.D.H. Lay, C.S.T. Chang and A.J. Hill: Phys. Rev. B, 2011, vol. 83, p. 014101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. C.D. Marioara, S.J. Andersen, J. Jansen and H.W. Zandbergen: Acta Mater., 2003, vol. 51, pp. 789-96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. M. Murayama and K. Hono: Acta Mater., 1999, vol. 47, pp. 1537-48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Serizawa, S. Hirosawa, and T. Sato: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2008, vol. 39A, pp. 243-51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Torsæter, H.S. Hasting, W. Lefebvre, C.D. Marioara, J.C. Walmsley, S.J. Andersen and R. Holmestad: J Appl. Phys., 2010, vol. 108, p. 073527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. L. Cao, P.A. Rometsch, and M.J. Couper: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2013, vol. 571, pp. 77-81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. P.A. Rometsch, L.F. Cao, X.Y. Xiong, and B.C. Muddle: Ultramicroscopy, 2011, vol. 111, pp. 690-94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. L. Cao, P.A. Rometsch, and M.J. Couper: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2013, vol. 559, pp. 257-61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. R.K.W. Marceau, A. de Vaucorbeil, G. Sha, S.P. Ringer, and W.J. Poole: Acta Mater., 2013, vol. 61, pp. 7285-303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. K. Yamada, T. Sato, and A. Kamio: Mater. Sci. Forum, 2000, vol. 331-337, pp. 669-74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. L. Zhen, S.B. Kang, and H.W. Kim: Mater. Sci. Tech., 1997, vol.13, pp. 905-10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. S. Esmaeili, X. Wang, D.J. Lloyd, and W.J. Poole: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2003, vol. 34A, pp. 751-63.

    Google Scholar 

  16. I. Dutta and S. M. Allen: J. Mater. Sci. Lett., 1991, vol. 10, pp. 323-26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. A.K. Gupta and D.J. Lloyd: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 1999, vol. 30A, pp. 879-83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. F. Vurpillot, A. Bostel, and D. Blavette: J. Microscopy, 1999, vol. 196, pp. 332-36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. F. Vurpillot, A. Bostel, E. Cadel, and D. Blavette: Ultramicroscopy, 2000, vol. 84, pp. 213-24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. M.K. Miller: Atom Probe Tomography, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, 2000.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. J.M. Hyde and C.A. English: Materials Research Symposia, G.E. Lucas, L. Snead, M.A. Kirk, and R.G. Elliman, eds., Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA, 2001, vol. 650.

  22. G. Thomas, J. Inst. Metals, 1961–1962, vol. 90, pp. 57–63.

  23. F. De Geuser, W. Lefebvre, and D. Blavette: Philos. Mag. Lett., 2006, vol. 86, pp. 227-34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. G. A. Edwards, K. Stiller, and G. L. Dunlop: Appl. Surf. Sci., 1994, vol. 76/77, pp. 219-25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. T. Hoshino and F. Nakamura: J Meta. Nanocryst. Mater., 2005, vol. 24-25, pp. 237-40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. S.J. Anderson, H.W. Zandbergen, J. Jansen, C. Taeholt, U. Tundal, and O. Reiso: Acta Mater., 1998, vol. 46, pp. 3283-98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. H.W. Zandbergen, S.J. Anderson, and J. Jansen: Science, 1997, vol. 277, pp. 1221-25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Research Laboratory, Kobe Steel, Ltd., 1-5-5 Takatsukadai, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651–2271, Japan

    Yasuhiro Aruga (Senior Researcher) & Masaya Kozuka (Researcher)

  2. Aluminum Sheets and Coils Research Department, Aluminum & Copper Business, Kobe Steel, Ltd., 15 Kinugaoka, Moka, Tochigi, 321-4367, Japan

    Yasuo Takaki (Manager)

  3. Precision and Intelligence Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta 4259-R2-18, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan

    Tatsuo Sato (Professor)

Authors
  1. Yasuhiro Aruga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masaya Kozuka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yasuo Takaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tatsuo Sato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yasuhiro Aruga.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted December 21, 2013.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aruga, Y., Kozuka, M., Takaki, Y. et al. Evaluation of Solute Clusters Associated with Bake-Hardening Response in Isothermal Aged Al-Mg-Si Alloys Using a Three-Dimensional Atom Probe. Metall Mater Trans A 45, 5906–5913 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-014-2548-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-014-2548-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation