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The current study investigates the influence of hot rolling on the microstructure evolution of the near-surface region on AA7050 aluminum alloy and the corrosion performance of the alloy. It is revealed that hot rolling resulted in grain refinement in the near-surface region, caused by dynamic recrystallization, and equiaxed grains less than 500 nm can be clearly observed. Fibrous grains were evident in the hot rolled AA7050 aluminum alloy with relatively lower rolling temperature or larger rolling reduction, caused by the more severe elemental segregation at grain boundaries, which inhibited the progression of dynamic recrystallization. The density of the precipitates in the fibrous grain layer was higher, compared with those in the equiaxed grain layer, due to the increased dislocation density, combined with more severe elemental segregation, which significantly promoted the nucleation of precipitates. With the co-influence exerted by low density of precipitates and dislocations on the improvement of the corrosion performance of the alloy, the rolled AA7050 alloy with decreased density of precipitates and dislocations exhibited better corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution is a serious threat to human health and the ecological environment, but adsorption technology based on nano adsorbents can effectively treat the crisis. However, due to the nanoscale effect, nano adsorbents have some crucial shortcomings, such as recycling difficulty and the loss of nanoparticles, which seriously limit their application. The feasible assembly of nano adsorbents is an accessible technology in urgent need of a breakthrough. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) adsorbent (MF/Ti3C2Tx/PmPD) with excellent performance and favorable recyclability was prepared by interfacial polymerization with melamine foam (MF) as the framework, two-dimensional (2D) titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) as the bridge and Poly (m-Phenylenediamine) (PmPD) as the active nano component. The morphology, structure, mechanical property of MF/Ti3C2Tx/PmPD and reference MF/PmPD were investigated through a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectra (FT-IR), Raman scattering spectra and a pressure-stress test, respectively. Owning to the regulation of Ti3C2Tx on the morphology and structure of PmPD, MF/Ti3C2Tx/PmPD showed excellent adsorption capacity (352.15 mg/g) and favorable cycling performance. R–P and pseudo-second-order kinetics models could well describe the adsorption phenomenon, indicating that the adsorption process involved a composite process of single-layer and multi-layer adsorption and was dominated by chemical adsorption. In this research, the preparation mechanism of MF/Ti3C2Tx/PmPD and the adsorption process of Cr(VI) were systematically investigated, which provided a feasible approach for the feasible assembly and application of nano adsorbents in the environmental field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quenching sensitivity of an Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy containing trace amounts of Sc and Zr is studied by interrupted quenching experiments. Electrical conductivity of the quenched samples and the hardness of the samples subjected to one-stage and two-stage aging, are measured to construct the time–temperature–transformation (TTT) curves and the time–temperature–property (TTP) curves. It is revealed that the quenching sensitivity of the alloy is mainly influenced by the precipitation of coarse η phases during slow quenching, which preferentially nucleate and grow at grain boundaries and at the Al3(Sc, Zr) dispersoids that are incoherent with the matrix. The quenching sensitivity increases with the size and quantity of the coarse η phases. The nose temperature is 290 °C for both TTT and TTP curves, where the phase transformation rate is the fastest and the quenching sensitivity is the highest. Compared to one-stage aged samples, two-stage aged samples exhibit lower quench sensitivity due to the reduced transformation rate from η′ phases to η phases after slow quenching. The quenching sensitive temperatures range from 206 to 358 °C for the one-stage aged samples and from 213 to 352 °C for the two-stage aged samples. Moreover, based on the simulated TTT and continuous cooling transformation curves, an optimized quenching process is proposed in the present work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the corrosion and heat resistance of Al-Mg-Si alloy conductor materials, Ce, Sc, Y and Zr were added in Al-Mg-Si alloy to regulate the microstructure. The Al-Mg-Si-Ce-Sc-Y alloy was designed with excellent pitting and intergranular corrosion resistance by obtaining the micron-sized Fe-containing second phase with a lower potential difference to Al matrix, more dispersed grain boundary precipitates with a higher proportion of Si particles, narrower width of PFZ and ideal distribution of intergranular precipitates. The Al-Mg-Si-Ce-Sc-Y alloy also maintained higher hardness, strength and electrical conductivity after overaging and annealing and the corrosion/heat resistance mechanisms were proposed. • The corrosion and heat resistance of Al-Mg-Si alloy conductors were further enhanced. • The mechanisms of pitting and intergranular corrosion mechanisms in Al-Mg-Si alloys were proposed. • The microalloying of Ce，Sc and Y in Al-Mg-Si alloys with high electrical conductivity was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extruded plates of 6005A aluminum alloy with 0.07 wt% Sc (referred to as M6005A alloy) was metal-inert-gas-welded (MIG-welded) with ER5087 filler wire. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and fatigue behavior of the joints were studied. Compared with the base material (BM), recrystallization occurred and the formation of the coarse β' phase was evident in the heat-affected zone close to the weld zone (HAZ 2), which resulted in a significant decrease in the mechanical properties of HAZ 2. However, trace Sc inhibited the growth of the recrystallized grains in the HAZ 2, strengthening the α-AlFeSi and β'′ phases in the BM, which drastically improved the mechanical properties of the BM. In the weld zone (WZ), grains were significantly refined since the presence of Al 3 (Sc, Zr) particles promoted the nucleation of such grains in the WZ, and the particles also promoted the non-uniform nucleation of the α-AlFeSi phase, which significantly improved the mechanical and fatigue properties of the WZ. The hardness distribution of the MIG-welded joint shows a double-W shape. The lowest hardness is 55 HV, observed in the HAZ 2. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and conditional fatigue strength (107 cycles) of the MIG-welded joint of M6005A-T6 are 238.5 MPa and 108.2 MPa, respectively, 38 MPa and 13 MPa higher than the those of the MIG-welded joint of 6005A-T6 alloy, respectively. • The 6005A alloy profile, with optimum content of Sc, was welded by MIG welding. • Study on microstructure and properties of welding joint of 6005A alloy containing Sc(referred to as M6005A-T6 alloy). • The mechanism of the effect of Sc on the structure and properties of 6005A welded joint was studied. • M6005A alloy is about to replace 6005A alloy as an important material for high-speed iron‑aluminum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical property and corrosion resistance are essential performances in ultra-high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys for the aerospace and weapon industries. In this study, the pre-strain and aging treatments were used to enhance such performances of the spray formed ultra-high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. After 2% pre-strain with peak aging (PA) and retrogression and re-aging (RRA) treatments, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation can reach to 774 MPa, 735 MPa, 10.7% and 774 MPa, 747 MPa, 9.4%, respectively. The coarser precipitates of the samples with 4% pre-strain can lead to the slight lower strength compared with the samples with 2% pre-strain. The proper combination of pre-strain and aging treatments can also effectively enhance the stress corrosion resistance of the studied alloy by the following reasons. First, the higher strain concentration degree and dislocation density introduced by pre-strain treatments have high internal energy and provide more stored energy for the growth of the passive film. Second, the spacing of grain boundary precipitates under double aging (DA) and RRA states is larger than that under PA state. The width of uniform precipitation free zone (PFZ) with 2% pre-strain is larger than that with 4% pre-strain. Third, after pre-strain treatments, the cracks perpendicular to the deformation direction can be produced in Al 7 Cu 2 Fe phase, which further breaks up such particles. According to the results of Kelvin probe microscopy, the Al 7 Cu 2 Fe phase with smaller dimension can obtain the lower difference of potential to Al matrix. • The strength and corrosion resistance of the alloy were enhanced by pre-strain. • The pre-strain produced cracks in Al 7 Cu 2 Fe particles and further broke up them. • The pre-strain improved the strain concentration degree and dislocation density. • The effect of precipitation free zone and precipitate is better under 2% strain. • The improvement mechanism of pre-strain treatment was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Preparation of new-type Sc-containing 6005A aluminum alloy by ingot metallurgy. • The microstructure evolution, mechanical properties and fatigue behavior of 6005A alloy under different ageing are studied. • Established the aging system with the best anti-fatigue performance. A new type of alloy, modified based on 6005A alloy, with addition of 0.06% Sc was prepared by ingot metallurgy. The alloy ingots were homogenized, extruded, quenched and solution-aged into 8 mm thick plates. The effect of different aging treatments on the fatigue properties of 6005A alloy was investigated. It is revealed that optimum resistance against fatigue crack growth (FCG) was obtained in the under aged (UA) sample. The lowest fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) was evident in the UA sample compared with the peak aged (PA) and over aged (OA) samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, laser shock peening was applied to the ultra-high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys prepared by ingot metallurgy and spray forming. The microstructural evolution, pitting corrosion, intergranular corrosion resistance and electrochemical analysis were systematically investigated. The depth and number of corrosion pits caused by Al matrix, Al 7 Cu 2 Fe and Al 2 CuMg particles can be successfully reduced by laser shock peening. The depth of intergranular corrosion and the width of intergranular cracks also decreased. Cyclic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests also indicated the improved corrosion resistance caused by laser shock peening. The relationship between microstructural evolution and corrosion resistance was studied. • Corrosion resistance of ultra-high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys is promoted by laser shock peening. • Al 2 CuMg and Al 7 Cu 2 Fe phases act as preferred sites for pitting corrosion. • Al 2 CuMg phase can cause deeper corrosion pits than Al 7 Cu 2 Fe phase. • Depth of pitting and intergranular corrosion are ameliorated by laser shock peening. • Residual compressive stress, line and surface defects is conducive to corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precipitation behaviour, mechanical properties and corrosion performance of an Al-Zn-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy under one-stage aging (T6), two-stage aging (T74) and retrogression and re-aging (RRA) treatment were mainly investigated. For the RRA treatment, with increasing temperature and duration of retrogression, the grain interior precipitates (GIPs) gradually grew and changed from GP zones + η′ phases to η′ phases + η phases. In addition, the discontinuity of coarsened grain boundary precipitates (GBPs) significantly increased, and the width of precipitate free zones (PFZs) became broader. Consequently, progressive decrease in strength and hardness, and improved corrosion resistance of the alloy can be observed. Compared to conventional T6 and T74 treatments, a good balance of mechanical properties (168.5 HV for hardness, 547 MPa for ultimate tensile strength) and corrosion resistance can be obtained with retrogression treatment at 160 °C for 30 min. Moreover, research on the localized corrosion of the Al-Zn-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy showed that, at the initial stage of pitting corrosion, the Al matrix around the cathodic α-Al(Fe,Mn)Si particles was uniformly dissolved, leading to the detachment of the α-Al(Fe,Mn)Si particles from the matrix and the formation of pitting pits. • The strengthening and corrosion mechanisms of Al-Zn-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy under different aging conditions were studied. • A model for the process of pitting corrosion development is established. • The optimized RRA treatment for Al-Zn-Mg-Sc-Zr is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effects of Sc, Y and Zr on the performances and microstructure evolution of Al-0.7Mg-0.6Si-0.2Ce alloys were studied. • An excellent combination of strength, elongation and electrical conductivity was achieved with the addition of Sc and Y. • The strengthening and electrical resistance mechanism of the studied alloys were revealed by statistical calculation. [Display omitted] In order to achieve the compatibility between excellent mechanical properties and good electrical conductivity of Al-Mg-Si alloys, detailed investigation was carried out to understand the microstructure evolution and their influences on performances of different Al-0.7Mg-0.6Si-0.2Ce-X (X Sc, Y and Zr) alloys prepared by casting, homogenization, hot extrusion, solution and aging treatments. Under aging state, Ce can form a large number of micron-sized AlCeSi and a few AlCeFeSi phase. The strength increased to 334 MPa as a result of decreased grain size and improved precipitation effect and the electrical conductivity increased up to 53.53%IACS because of lower solute Si atoms. The β" precipitates were coarsened and consequently the volume fracture was largely reduced due to the presence of Sc element, leading to the decreased strength of 311 MPa. The more solute Mg, Si and Sc atoms increased the degree of free electron scattering and the electrical conductivity decreased to 51.86%IACS. It is also found that Sc significantly enhanced the elongation of the alloy from 11.8% to 18.0%, which might be attributed to the formation of Al 3 Sc and (Al, Si) 3 Sc phases. The addition of Y raised the electrical conductivity of Al-Mg-Si-Ce alloy to 55.79%IACS by ameliorating the volume fraction and distribution of β" precipitates and decreasing the solute Si atoms. The co-addition of Sc and Y inherited the advantages of such two alloys. The ultimate tensile strength, elongation, electrical conductivity of Al-0.7Mg-0.6Si-0.2Ce-0.2Sc-0.1Y alloy processed by aging treatments is 336 MPa, 19.4% and 53.11%IACS, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of trace Sc and Y on the corrosion behaviors of cold-drawn Al-0.2Ce alloys were revealed by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Electron Probe Micro-analyzer (EPMA), and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that the Al 3 Sc particles not only enable the increase of subgrain boundaries in the modified alloy after cold drawing but also improve the morphology and size of the Al 13 Fe 3 Ce phase. SKPFM analysis showed that the enrichment of Y around the Al 13 Fe 3 Ce phase in the modified alloy can decrease its electrochemical inertness and thus reduce the micro-galvanic corrosion susceptibility of the alloy. The results of the electrochemical analysis showed that the individual and composite addition of Sc and Y can improve the corrosion resistance of the cold-drawn Al-0.2Ce alloy. The corrosion potential and current of Al-0.2Ce-0.2Sc alloy are −0.892 V and 0.91 μA·cm−2, while the corrosion potential and current of Al-0.2Ce-0.1Y alloy are −0.918 V and 1.08 μA·cm−2, respectively. It is obvious that Sc element improves the corrosion resistance of Al-0.2Ce alloy more effectively than Y element. The corrosion depth of Al-0.2Ce-0.2Sc-0.1Y alloy was the smallest tested by immersion under the same conditions, and its corrosion potential and corrosion current were −0.842 V and 0.79 μA·cm−2, respectively, corresponding to the best corrosion resistance. The formal mechanism of pitting corrosion in the alloys is also discussed. [Display omitted] • Effect of Sc on microstructure and corrosion of Al-0.2Ce alloy was revealed. • The enrichment of Y atoms around Al 13 Fe 3 Ce can reduce the potential difference. • The corrosion behaviors of pitting corrosion induced by Al 13 Fe 3 Ce was discussed. • The equivalent circuit of the studied alloys was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Biotrophic pathogens are believed to strategically manipulate sugar transport in host cells to enhance their access to carbohydrates. However, mechanisms of sugar translocation from host cells to biotrophic fungi such as powdery mildew across the plant–haustorium interface remain poorly understood.To investigate this question, systematic subcellular localisation analysis was performed for all the 14 members of the monosaccharide sugar transporter protein (STP) family in Arabidopsis thaliana. The best candidate AtSTP8 was further characterised for its transport properties in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and potential role in powdery mildew infection by gene ablation and overexpression in Arabidopsis.Our results showed that AtSTP8 was mainly localised to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and appeared to be recruited to the host‐derived extrahaustorial membrane (EHM) induced by powdery mildew. Functional complementation assays in S. cerevisiae suggested that AtSTP8 can transport a broad spectrum of hexose substrates. Moreover, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing AtSTP8 showed increased hexose concentration in leaf tissues and enhanced susceptibility to powdery mildew.Our data suggested that the ER‐localised sugar transporter AtSTP8 may be recruited to the EHM where it may be involved in sugar acquisition by haustoria of powdery mildew from host cells in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing form of Sc in Si-containing 6xxx-series Al alloys and its role in strength has always been controversial. In this study, isothermal section phase diagram of the Al-0.60 wt%Mg-Si-Sc system at 350 °C was calculated by CALPHAD method and Pandat software, and the results show that Sc exists in Al 3 Sc or V (AlSc 2 Si 2) phases, depending on the contents of Si and Sc. Subsequently, we designed a Al-0.60 Mg-0.75Si-0.05Sc (wt%) Melt Inert Gas (MIG) welded alloy, and investigated its microstructure and mechanical property by tensile tests and electron microscopy. HRTEM and STEM-EDS results show that, Sc exists in the form of core(Sc)-shell (Si) structured (Al, Si) 3 Sc transition phases with the size range of 60–80 nm in the fractured zone (heat affected zone, HAZ) of the welded joints, deriving from equilibrium phase diagram, V (AlSc 2 Si 2) theoretically. The HAZ of the Al-Mg-Si-Sc joint consists of partly recrystallized grains and strong rolling texture, different from the completely recrystallized and coarsened grains in the Al-Mg-Si joint. In addition, the (Al, Si) 3 Sc phases increase the density of β'′ aging strengthening phases and prevent them from coarsening under welding heat cycle. The above positive effects of (Al, Si) 3 Sc particles increase the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation of Al-Mg-Si welded joints by 31 MPa (20.6%), 41 MPa (21.2%) and 0.8% (12.9%), respectively. [Display omitted] • Clarify the existing form of Sc in metal-inert gas welded Al-Mg-Si alloys. • Investigate the thermal stability of (Al, Si) 3 Sc phases and their effects on microstructure under welding thermal cycle. • Quantify the role of Sc in strength of metal-inert gas welded Al-Mg-Si alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion behaviour of 2A97-T6 Al-Cu-Li alloy was investigated by anodic polarization, immersion test and quasi-in-situ analysis with corrosion morphology characterized by a range of electron microscopy techniques. It is revealed that selective dissolution of grain interior tends to occur in grains of high stored energies, resulting in corroded bands associated with dense precipitate bands in the alloy. The evolutions of corrosion morphology during immersion test and quasi-in-situ analysis are similar, which both exhibit well-defined crystallographic pits. By contrast, crystallographic feature was less evident for localized corrosion induced by anodic polarization, which may be associated with the extensive Cu re-distribution. • Corroded bands are confined within individual grains of high stored energies. • Corroded bands are related to precipitates. • Cu re-distribution promotes the localized corrosion development but compromises its crystallographic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quenching condition of aluminum alloy can affect the mechanical property and corrosion resistance of the profile. This paper is aimed at the low quench sensitivity of aluminum alloys. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze precipitate behaviors of the 7A46 aluminum alloy under different isothermal cooling conditions and microstructure evolutions of quench-induced precipitations. The effect of the different isothermal time on the corrosion resistance of the alloy, and the relationship between microstructure and corrosion resistance after quenching were revealed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization tests. Results show that corrosion sensitivity of the quenching-aged alloy is much higher than that of the double-aged (DA) alloy, and the corrosion resistance of the quenched alloy decreases firstly and then increases. Due to the high density of the matrix precipitates, the increased content of the impurity element, the discontinuity of the grain boundary precipitates and the widening of the precipitates free zone, the most serious degree of corrosion performance among the quenched alloys is 295 °C at 800 s, and the self-corrosion potential and self-current density is −0.919 V and 2.371 μA/cm2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]