Evolution of microstructure and hardness during artificial aging of an ultrafine-grained Al-Zn-Mg-Zr alloy processed by high pressure torsion
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract An ultrafine-grained (UFG) Al-4.8%Zn-1.2%Mg-0.14%Zr (wt%) alloy was processed by high pressure torsion (HPT) technique and then aged at 120 and 170 °C for 2 h. The changes in the microstructure due to this artificial aging were studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the HPT-processed alloy has a small grain size of about 200 nm and a high dislocation density of about 8 × 1014 m−2. The majority of precipitates after HPT are Guinier–Preston (GP) zones with a size of ~ 2 nm, and only a few large particles were formed at the grain boundaries. Annealing at 120 and 170 °C for 2 h resulted in the formation of stable MgZn2 precipitates from a part of the GP zones. It was found that for the higher temperature the fraction of the MgZn2 phase was larger and the dislocation density in the Al matrix was lower. The changes in the precipitates and the dislocation density due to aging were correlated to the hardness evolution. It was found that the majority of hardness reduction during aging was caused by the annihilation of dislocations and some grain growth at 170 °C. The aging effect on the microstructure and the hardness of the HPT-processed specimen was compared to that observed for the UFG sample processed by equal-channel angular pressing. It was revealed that in the HPT sample less secondary phase particles formed in the grain boundaries, and the higher amount of precipitates in the grain interiors resulted in a higher hardness even after aging.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Microstructure and mechanical properties · Aluminum Alloys Composites Properties · Magnesium Alloys: Properties and Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (50)
Show source-provided references
1. Valiev RZ, Zhilyaev AP, Langdon TG (2014) Bulk nanostructured materials—fundamentals and applications. Wiley, Hoboken
2. Valiev RZ, Langdon TG (2006) Principles of equal channel angular pressing as a processing tool for grain refinement. Prog Mater Sci 51:881–98110.1016/j.pmatsci.2006.02.003 ↗
3. Zhilyaev AP, Langdon TG (2008) Using high-pressure torsion for metal processing: fundamentals and applications. Prog Mater Sci 53:893–97910.1016/j.pmatsci.2008.03.002 ↗
4. Gubicza J (2017) Defect structure and properties of nanomaterials. Woodhead Publishing, Duxford
5. Liddicoat PV, Liao XZ, Zhao Y, Zhu Y, Murashkin MY, Lavernia EJ, Valiev RZ, Ringer SP (2010) Nanostructural hierarchy increases the strength of aluminium alloys. Nat Commun 1(63):1–7
6. Valiev RZ, Enikeev NA, Murashkin MY, Kazykhanov VU, Sauvage X (2010) On the origin of extremely high strength of ultrafine-grained Al alloys produced by severe plastic deformation. Scr Mater 63:949–95210.1016/j.scriptamat.2010.07.014 ↗
7. Zeng ZR, Zhu YM, Bian MZ, Xu SW, Davies J, Birbilis N, Nie JF (2015) Annealing strengthening in a dilute Mg–Zn–Ca sheet alloy. Scr Mater 107:127–13010.1016/j.scriptamat.2015.06.002 ↗
8. Hu J, Shi YN, Sauvage X, Sha G, Lu K (2017) Grain boundary stability governs hardening and softening in extremely fine nanograined metals. Science 355:1292–129610.1126/science.aal5166 ↗
9. Zeng W, Shen Y, Zhang N, Huang X, Wang J, Tang G, Shan A (2012) Rapid hardening induced by electric pulse annealing in nanostructured pure aluminum. Scr Mater 66:147–15010.1016/j.scriptamat.2011.10.023 ↗
10. Valiev RZ, Sergueeva AV, Mukherjee AK (2003) The effect of annealing on tensile deformation behavior of nanostructured SPD titanium. Scr Mater 49:669–67410.1016/S1359-6462(03)00395-6 ↗
11. Gubicza J, Pereira PHR, Kapoor G, Huang Y, Subramanya Sarma V, Langdon TG (2018) Annealing-induced hardening in ultrafine-grained Ni–Mo alloys. Adv Eng Mater 20:180018410.1002/adem.201800184 ↗
12. Gubicza J (2020) Annealing-induced hardening in ultrafine-grained and nanocrystalline materials. Adv Eng Mater 22:190050710.1002/adem.201900507 ↗
13. Su LH, Lu C, Tieu AK, He LZ, Zhang Y, Wexler D (2011) Vacancy-assisted hardening in nanostructured metals. Mater Lett 65:514–51610.1016/j.matlet.2010.10.090 ↗
14. Cengeri P, Kerber MB, Schafler E, Zehetbauer JM, Setman D (2019) Strengthening during heat treatment of HPT processed copper and nickel. Mater Sci Eng, A 742:124–13110.1016/j.msea.2018.11.010 ↗
15. Tian YZ, Freudenberger J, Pippan R, Zhang ZF (2013) Formation of nanostructure and abnormal annealing behavior of a Cu–Ag–Zr alloy processed by high-pressure torsion. Mater Sci Eng, A 568:184–19410.1016/j.msea.2012.11.048 ↗
16. Sun LX, Tao NR, Kuntz M, Yu JQ, Lu K (2014) Annealing-induced hardening in a nanostructured low-carbon steel prepared by using dynamic plastic deformation. J Mater Sci Technol 30:731–73510.1016/j.jmst.2014.03.008 ↗
17. Darling KA, Kecskes LJ, Atwater M, Semones J, Scattergood RO, Koch CC (2013) Thermal stability of nanocrystalline nickel with yttrium additions. J Mater Res 28:1813–181910.1557/jmr.2013.9 ↗
18. Mondolfo LF (1971) Structure of the aluminium: magnesium: zinc alloys. Int Metall Rev 153:95–12410.1179/095066071790137865 ↗
19. Polmear IJ (1995) Light alloys-metallurgy of the light metals, 3rd edn. Arnold, London
20. Lendvai J (1996) Precipitation and strengthening in aluminium alloys. Mater Sci Forum 217–222:43–5610.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.217-222.43 ↗
21. Chinh NQ, Lendvai J, Ping DH, Hono K (2004) The effect of Cu on mechanical and precipitation properties of Al-Zn-Mg alloys. J Alloys Comput 378:52–6010.1016/j.jallcom.2003.11.175 ↗
22. Chinh NQ, Gubicza J, Czeppe T, Lendvai J, Xu C, Valiev RZ, Langdon TG (2009) Developing a strategy for the processing of age-hardenable alloys by ECAP at room temperature. Mater Sci Eng, A 516:248–25210.1016/j.msea.2009.03.049 ↗
23. Chinh NQ, Győri T, Gubicza J, Lendvai J (2012) Possible self-organized criticality in the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect during decomposition of solid solution alloys. MRS Commun 2:1–410.1557/mrc.2011.25 ↗
24. Valiev RZ, Kazykhanov VU, Mavlyutov AM, Yudakhina AA, Chinh NQ, Murashkin MY (2020) Superplasticity and high strength in AlZnMgZr alloy with ultrfine grains. Adv Eng Mater 22:190055510.1002/adem.201900555 ↗
25. Gubicza J, Lábár JL, Lendvai J, Chinh NQ (2019) The influence of artificial aging on the microstructure and hardness of an Al–Zn–Mg–Zr alloy processed by equal-channel angular pressing. J Mater Sci 54:10918–1092810.1007/s10853-019-03646-x ↗
26. Kawasaki M, Fifueiredo RB, Langdon TG (2011) An investigation of hardness homogeneity throughout disks processed by high-pressure torsion. Acta Mater 59:308–31610.1016/j.actamat.2010.09.034 ↗
27. Lee HJ, Han JK, Janakiraman Ahn B, Kawasaki M, Langdon TG (2016) Significance of grain refinement on microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al-3% Mg alloy processed by high-pressure torsion. J All Comput 686:998–100710.1016/j.jallcom.2016.06.194 ↗
28. Escobar DH, Rahman ZU, Yilmazer H, Kawasaki M, Boehlert CJ (2019) Microstructural evolution and intermetallic formation in Zn-Mg hybrids processed by high-pressure torsion. Phil Mag 99:557–58410.1080/14786435.2018.1546962 ↗
29. Escobar DH, Marcus J, Han JK, Unocic RR, Kawasaki M, Boehlert CJ (2020) Effect of post-deformation on the microstructure and micro-mechanical behavior of Zn-Mg hybrids processed by high-pressure torsion. Mater Sci Eng, A 771:13857810.1016/j.msea.2019.138578 ↗
30. Valiev RZ, Ivanisenko YV, Rauch EF, Baudelet B (1996) Structure and deformation behavior of Armco iron subjected to severe plastic deformation. Acta Mater 44:4705–471210.1016/S1359-6454(96)00156-5 ↗
31. Ribárik G, Gubicza J, Ungár T (2004) Correlation between strength and microstructure of ball-milled Al-Mg alloys determined by X-ray diffraction. Mater Sci Eng, A 387–389:343–34710.1016/j.msea.2004.01.089 ↗
32. Ungár T, Tichy G, Gubicza J, Hellmig RJ (2005) Correlation between subgrains and coherently scattering domains. Powder Diffr 20:366–37510.1154/1.2135313 ↗
33. Priya P, Krane MJM, Johnson DR (2016) Precipitation of Al3Zr dispersoids during homogenization of Al-Zn-Cu-Mg-Zr alloys. Light Met 2016:211–218
34. Eivani AR, Zhou J, Duszczyk J (2012) A new approach to incorporating the effect of nano-sized dispersoids on recrystallization inhibition into Monte Carlo simulation. Comput Mater Sci 54:370–37710.1016/j.commatsci.2011.10.016 ↗
35. Buranova Y, Kulitskiy V, Peterlechner M, Mogucheva A, Kaibyshev R, Divinski SV, Wilde G (2017) Al3(Sc, Zr)-based precipitates in Al–Mg alloy: effect of severe deformation. Acta Mater 124:210–22410.1016/j.actamat.2016.10.064 ↗
36. Orlova TS, Mavlyutov AM, Latynina TA, Ubyivovk EV, Murashkin MY, Schneider R, Gerthsen D, Valiev RZ (2018) Influence of severe plastic deformation on microstructure, strength and electrical conductivity of aged Al–0.4Zr(Wt%) alloy. Rev Adv Mater Sci 55:92–10110.1515/rams-2018-0032 ↗
37. Zhang Y, Jin S, Trimby P, Liao X, Murashkin MY, Valiev RZ, Sha G (2019) Strengthening mechanisms in an ultrafine-grained Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy processed by high pressure torsion at different temperatures. Mater Sci Eng, A 752:223–23210.1016/j.msea.2019.02.094 ↗
38. Tabor D (1951) Hardness of metals. Clarendon Press, Oxford
39. Gubicza J, Chinh NQ, Lábár JL, Hegedűs Z, Xu C, Langdon TG (2008) Microstructure and yield strength of severely deformed silver. Scr Mater 58:775–77810.1016/j.scriptamat.2007.12.028 ↗
40. Furukawa M, Horita Z, Nemoto M, Valiev RZ, Langdon TG (1996) Microhardness measurements and the Hall-Petch relationship in an Al-Mg alloy with submicrometer grain size. Acta Mater 44:4619–462910.1016/1359-6454(96)00105-X ↗
41. Furukawa M, Iwahashi Y, Horita Z, Nemoto M, Tsenev NK, Valiev RZ, Langdon TG (1997) Structural evolution and the Hall-Petch relationship in an Al-Mg-Li-Zr alloy with ultrafine grain size. Acta Mater 45:4751–475710.1016/S1359-6454(97)00120-1 ↗
42. Farhat ZN, Ding Y, Northwood DO, Alpas AT (1996) Effect of grain size on friction and wear of nanocrystalline aluminum. Mater Sci Eng, A 206:302–31310.1016/0921-5093(95)10016-4 ↗
43. Zehetbauer MJ, Stüwe HP, Vorhauer A, Schafler E, Kohout J (2003) The role of hydrostatic pressure in severe plastic deformation. Adv Eng Mater 5:330–33710.1002/adem.200310090 ↗
44. Schafler E (2010) Effects of releasing the hydrostatic pressure on the nanostructure after severe plastic deformation of Cu. Scr Mater 62:423–42610.1016/j.scriptamat.2009.12.004 ↗
45. Gubicza J, Dobatkin SV, Khosravi E, Kuznetsov AA, Labar JL (2011) Microstructural stability of Cu processed by different routes of severe plastic deformation. Mater Sci Eng, A 528:1828–183210.1016/j.msea.2010.11.026 ↗
46. Schafler E, Steiner G, Korznikova E, Kerber M, Zehetbauer MJ (2005) Lattice defect investigation of ECAP-Cu by means of X-ray line profi le analysis, calorimetry and electrical resistometry. Mater Sci Eng, A 410:169–17310.1016/j.msea.2005.08.070 ↗
47. Setman D, Schafler E, Korznikova E, Zehetbauer MJ (2008) The presence and nature of vacancy type defects in nanometals detained by severe plastic deformation. Mater Sci Eng, A 493:116–12210.1016/j.msea.2007.06.093 ↗
48. Kuzel R, Janecek M, Matej Z, Cizek J, Dopita M, Srba O (2010) Microstructure of equal-channel angular pressed Cu and Cu-Zr samples studied by different methods. Metall Mater Trans A 41:1174–119010.1007/s11661-009-9895-0 ↗
49. Cizek J, Janecek M, Srba O, Kuzel R, Barnovska Z, Prochazka I, Dobatkin S (2011) Evolution of defects in copper deformed by high-pressure torsion. Acta Mater 59:2322–232910.1016/j.actamat.2010.12.028 ↗
50. Su LH, Lu C, Deng GY, Tieu K, Zhang LC, Guagliardo P, Samarin SN, Williams JF (2014) Vacancy-type defects study on ultra-fine grained aluminium processed by severe plastic deformation. Sci Adv Mater 6:1338–134510.1166/sam.2014.1809 ↗