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In this paper, the effect of thermomechanical treatment process on the hardening behavior, grain microstructure, precipitated phase, and tensile mechanical properties of the new high-strength and high-ductility Al-10.0Zn-3.0Mg-2.8Cu alloy was studied, and the optimal thermomechanical treatment process was established. The strengthening and toughening mechanisms were revealed, which provided technical and theoretical guidance for the engineering application of this kind of high strength-ductility aluminum alloy. Al-10.0Zn-3.0Mg-2.8Cu alloy cylindrical parts with external longitudinal reinforcement were prepared by a composite extrusion deformation process (reciprocal upsetting + counter-extrusion) with a true strain up to 2.56, and the organizational evolution of the alloys during the extrusion deformation process and the influence of pre-stretching treatments on the subsequent aging precipitation behaviors and mechanical properties were investigated. The results show that firstly, the large plastic deformation promotes the fragmentation of coarse insoluble phases and the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization, which results in the elongation of the grains along the extrusion direction, and the volume fraction of recrystallization reaches 42.4%. Secondly, the kinetic study showed that the decrease in the activation energy of precipitation increased the nucleation sites, which further promoted the diffuse distribution of the second phase in the alloy and a higher number of nucleation sites, while limiting the coarsening of the precipitated phase. When the amount of pre-deformation was increased from 0% to 2%, the size of the matrix precipitated phase decreased from 5.11 μm to 4.1 μm, and when the amount of pre-deformation was increased from 2% to 7%, the coarsening of the matrix precipitated phase took place, and the size of the phase increased from 4.1 μm to 7.24 μm. The finalized heat treatment process for the deformation of the aluminum alloy tailframe was as follows: solution (475 °C/3 h) + 2% pre-stretching + aging (120 °C/24 h), at which the comprehensive performance of the alloy was optimized, with a tensile strength of 634.2 MPa, a yield strength of 571.0 MPa, and an elongation of 15.2%. The alloy was strengthened by both precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening. After 2% pre-stretching, the fracture surface starts to be dominated by dense tough nest structure, and most of them are small tough nests, and small and dense tough nests are the main reason for the increase in alloy toughness after 2% pre-stretching deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural stabilities and thermal properties of η′ and η phase at high temperature and pressure were investigated via first principles calculations combined with quasi-harmonic Debye approximation (QHA). The calculated results illustrate η′ possess high formation enthalpy with lower structural stability at high temperature, which may transits to equilibrium phase η at temperature range of 510–520 K. The calculated thermodynamic properties indicate η exhibits better thermal stability than η′ at high temperature. The thermoelastic properties of η′ and η were estimated based on the temperature-dependent elastic constants Cij(T), and it is revealed the elastic moduli of η′ are larger than that of η though both two phases become deformable with elevated temperature. Moreover, the evaluated thermoelastic anisotropies suggest η′ and η are essentially elastic isotropic on {0001} plane, while η′ exhibit serious mechanical anisotropy and angular bonding characters on both {10-10} and {01–10} planes at high temperature.

Abstract—This study investigated the effect of deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) on the aging processes of Al–0.43Mg–1.27Si alloy. Differences in the mechanical properties and precipitation behavior between conventional treatment and DCT were analyzed by means of hardness test, tensile test, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). DCT promoted the precipitation of Si phases, which is accompanied by an increase in hardness. The content of Si was improved from 0.84 to 1.08% and the hardness was increased from 46.11 to 48.89 HV. The temperature of precipitation of GP zones and β'' phase was lower, which accelerated precipitation of the β'' phase and then improved the aging hardening response of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]