Effect of the Cu/Mg Ratio on Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Wrought Al–Cu–Mg–Ag Alloy

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of magnesium (Mg) on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of wrought Al–4Cu–xMg–0.6Ag alloys. The results from Optical Microscope, SEM, XRD analysis, and Thermo-Calc simulation were used to identify the microstructure formed after the aging process. Testing for hardness and tensile strength was conducted, in addition to corrosion testing. It was found that Mg significantly impacts the hardness of the alloys, with a high Mg content (low Cu/Mg ratio) increasing the hardness but reducing the tensile strength and ductility. This study attributed this to the formation of the S phase, which is dependent on both the quantity in the bulk and the size of the phase. The grain size was found to be finer with a higher Mg content, since the particle size inhibits grain growth during the artificial aging process. Counterintuitively, the corrosion activity was reduced in the high-Mg-content alloy due to its large particle size and the reduced galvanic cell effect. This study highlighted the importance of considering the effects of Mg on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of Al–Cu–Mg–Ag alloys.

Sustainability through Optimal Compositional and Thermomechanical Design for the Al-7XXX Alloys: An ANOVA Case Study

“…In recent years, researchers have studied the properties and microstructure of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys under various treatments due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, superior absorption capacity, good machinability, good corrosion resistance, and excellent weldability. The aforementioned characteristics of Al-7XXX alloys make them a good choice for designing and manufacturing critical structural components in aviation, space, and defense industries [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. However, the ever-growing demand for industrial sustainability presents a significant challenge for material scientists to develop novel processing routes to improve the mechanical properties of these materials further while ensuring a sizeable manufacturing scale.…”