Effect of Nd on microstructure and properties of 2A70 alloy.

The effect of neodymium (Nd) additions from 0 to 0.2 wt.% on microstructure, mechanical properties at room and high temperature, as well as corrosion resistance of 2A70 alloy were studied by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in this paper. The results show that appropriate addition of Nd (0.15 wt.%) refines the size and enhances the density of the aging precipitates S′ phase, which lead to the increasing of mechanical properties at room and elevated temperatures. The newly formed Al8Cu4Nd compound, dispersed along grain boundary, which hinders the movement of grain boundaries at elevated temperature and improves the high temperature performance of 2A70 alloy. Compared with traditional 2A70 alloy, the intergranular corrosion of the peak-aged alloy with 0.15 wt.% Nd has also been effectively enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]