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Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Properties of Al-7.0Zn-1.5Cu-1.5Mg-0.1Zr-0.1Ce Alloy

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Abstract

To obtain excellent properties in 7××× series aluminum alloys, the heat treatment process used is an important factor. This needs to be chosen according to the different alloy compositions. A 7××× series aluminum alloy with high zinc content (Zn/Mg > 4, Mg/Cu = 1) was prepared. Studying the heat treatment process of the alloy is important to guide companies in its industrial production. The optimum heat treatment process is explored from a microstructure point of view. The alloy was melted and cast in the laboratory using a metallurgical method. The microstructure, fracture morphology, and mechanical properties of the alloy were examined by metallographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and tensile testing. Research on the alloy solution treatment was emphasized. The results showed that the solution effect was optimum at 470 °C × 1 h during a single-stage solution treatment. The recrystallization degree was low when the two-stage solution treatment process was 450 °C × 0.5 h + 475 °C × 0.5 h due to the release of deformation energy at low temperature; at the same time, the second-order solid-solution temperature was high, the solid-solution effect was better than in the single-stage solid-solution treatment, and the comprehensive mechanical properties of the alloy were better.

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Funding

This research was funded by Keynote Research and Development Projects of Shandong (No. 2017CXGC0402), Key Projects of Humanities and Social Sciences Program of Colleges and Universities in Shandong (No. J17RZ011), Special Program for the Training of Young Scholars in Social Science Planning of Shandong (No. 17CQXJ03), Science and Technology Project of Colleges and Universities in Shandong (No. J18KB046), and Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant No. ZR2017MEM009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Material Science and Engineering, Yantai Nanshan University, Yantai, 265713, China

    Jinhua Chu, Ting Lin & Hongjie Fang

  2. Shandong Drug and Food Vocational College, Weihai, 264210, China

    Guojing Wang

  3. Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China

    Hongjie Fang & Diangang Wang

Authors
  1. Jinhua Chu
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  2. Ting Lin
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  3. Guojing Wang
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  4. Hongjie Fang
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  5. Diangang Wang
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Contributions

JC, TL, GW, CW, RC, and DW prepared the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr-Ce alloy samples and performed the solution treatment system under the supervision of H.F. All authors discussed the results and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hongjie Fang.

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Chu, J., Lin, T., Wang, G. et al. Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Properties of Al-7.0Zn-1.5Cu-1.5Mg-0.1Zr-0.1Ce Alloy. Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal. 9, 312–322 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13632-020-00639-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13632-020-00639-0

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