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The effect of the Zn/Mg ratio on microstructures, mechanical properties and corrosion performances of Al-Zn-Mg alloys was studied. Microstructures were characterized using the optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Tensile tests, intergranular corrosion (IGC) and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) tests were conducted to study the properties. Microstructures results indicated that with the decrease of the Zn/Mg ratio, the recrystallization proportion and the fraction of second phase decreased, while the size of η' (MgZn2) phases in grain interior also significantly decreased. The number density of η' phases in grain interior increased and grain boundary precipitates developed discontinuous distribution with the decrease of the Zn/Mg ratio. These microstructures contributed to the significant improvement of the strength and corrosion resistance. The tensile strength and yield strength increased by 34.1% and 47.4%, respectively, with the Zn/Mg ratio decreased from 11.4 to 6.1. Calculating results indicated that the enhancement of strength mainly contributed from the solid-solution strengthening, grain-boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening. The intergranular corrosion degree was greatly relieved and the stress corrosion sensitivity index decreased from 0.031 to 0.007 with the Zn/Mg ratio decreased from 11.4 to 6.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of multi-stage aging heat treatments on the hardness, tensile strength, electrical conductance, and exfoliation corrosion (EXCO) resistance of the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy has been studied through the Vickers hardness, tensile, conductivity, and EXCO testing combined with microstructure characterization using a transmission electron microscope. Experimental results demonstrated that multi-stage aging conditions could effectively enhance the localized corrosion resistance through a lower strength loss compared to T6 aging condition (120 °C/24 h). The designed four-step aging (FSA) treatments could improve the EXCO properties to PB degree along with the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength to 373 MPa and 324 MPa, respectively. The development trend of localized corrosion resistances has been further verified using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization dynamic curves. Microstructures results indicated that dense precipitates in matrix, discontinuous coarse precipitates on grain boundaries, and a proper precipitation free zone play an important role in balancing the strength and corrosion properties of the FSA aged alloy. • Multi-step aging treatment was designed in Al–Zn–Mg alloy. • The balance of strength and exfoliation corrosion were studied. • The effect of microstructure evolution on the corrosion resistance was studied. • The four-step aging treatment could improve the exfoliation corrosion resistance. • The designed four-step aging treatment could maintain higher yield strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]