In this paper, the Al-8.5Fe-1.3V-1.7Si alloy was fabricated by spray forming and forging processes. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy were investigated by means of metallographic, scanning electron microscope and tensile test. The results indicate that spray formed Al-8.5Fe-1.3V-1.7Si alloy after pressing plus can forging processes displays excellent microstructure and characterization.

In order to investigate sub-rapid solidification behavior of semi-solid magnesium alloy metal, a novel semi-solid processing technique, called new vacuum suction casting (NVSC), is used to manufacture thin castings of AZ91D Mg-alloy directly from a liquid metal. The resulting microstructures of castings are characterized in detail and linked to the solidification behavior. In the microstructure of the sub-rapidly solidified SSM sheet, the “preexisting” primary solid particles, with the morphology of near-globules or rosettes, disperse in the homogeneous matrix consisting of fine near-equiaxed secondary α-Mg grains and fine precipitates of β-Mg17Al12 intermetallics. Owing to rapid solidification rate, the volume fraction of the β phase in the sub-rapidly solidified SSM sheets is much lower than that in the as-cast ingot. In addition, the content of alloying elements of Al and Zn was higher in the grain boundaries and the eutectic structure than that in the primary solid particles and in the second α-grains.

Abstract. The microstructure and mechanical properties of a metal inert gas welds in a medium strength Al-4Zn-1Mg alloy were characterized by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and tensile tests. It is found that the joint of the alloy contained three distinctive regions, i.e. fusion zone, heat affected zone and base metal region. Extensive microhardness measurements were conducted in the weld regions of the nuggets exhibited a hardness loss in the fusion zone due to the loss of strengthening phases. Microstructural examination of the joints revealed typical eutectic structure was appeared in the heat-affected zone. Tensile properties of the joints were obtained by testing flat transverse tensile specimens, and the results indicated that tensile strength of these welds approached 83.3~84.2% of the base metal.

In this study, the effect of various aging treatment (T6 and T7 treatment) on the mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and the microstructure of an Al-7.5Zn-1.3Mg-1.4Cu-0.12Zr alloy has been investigated. The results show that with elevating the aging treatment temperatures, the aging response rate is greatly accelerated. When T6 temper is performed at 140°C for 12h, as compared to peak aging for 24h at 120°C, the UTS and the corresponding Elongation values keep the same level, whereas the TYS and the electrical conductivity obviously increase by 5% and 9%, which is up to 560 MPa and 22.6 MS/m, respectively. And there are clear PFZs along the grain boundary and slightly coarser precipitates inside the grain. GPI zones, GPII zones and η' phases are major precipitates for the alloy under T6 condition. When T7 temper is performed on the alloy, the main precipitates are GPII zones, η′ and η phases. The coarser precipitates inside the grain and discontinuous grain boundary precipitates are favorable to electrical conductivity, which decrease the strength of 5~17% compared to T6 treatment. After T76 treatment (i.e., 110°C/6 h + 160°C/6 h), the UTS, TYS, Elongation and electrical conductivity values were 540 MPa, 510 MPa, 16.7% and 23.5 MS/m, respectively.

In the present study, a systematic study of nanoscale precipitates in an Al-7.5Zn-1.7Mg-1.4Cu-0.12Zr alloy have been carried out for various typical aging tempers, including T6, T76, T74, T73 and RRA treatments, by combining synchrotron-based small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Based on the TEM observations, quantitative and statistical structural information, including precipitate size, volume fraction, number density and inter-precipitate distance have been extracted from SAXS data through model fitting. The results show that the T6 peak-aged alloy with the smallest precipitate size has the highest number density and lowest volume fraction of precipitates. Under two-step T7X over-aged tempers, with the deepen of aging degree, the precipitate size, volume fraction and inter-precipitate distance increases, but the number density decreases. The size distribution of precipitates for the RRA-treated alloy is in between that of T6 and T76. The results also show that as the degree of over-aging deepens, the precipitate size distribution interval becomes broader.