Microstructure, tensile properties and thermal stability of AlMgSiScZr alloy printed by laser powder bed fusion

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2020.08.033

Abstract

Abstract:

The new generation of Sc and Zr modified Al alloys has been attracted wide concerns in aerospace industry, owing to the excellent mechanical performances and superior thermal stability than other normal Al alloys. By microalloying with Sc and Zr, the Al3(Sc, Zr) particle forms as the grain refiner during the solidification, which is extremely beneficial for the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processed Al alloys. In this study, a new type Al-14.1Mg-0.47Si-0.31Sc-0.17 Zr alloy was additively manufactured by LPBF, and the microstructure, tensile properties and thermal stability were studied in detail. By using a single melt-67° scanning strategy, the LPBF-processed specimen with a relative density of 99.4 % and tensile strength of 487.7 MPa was obtained at 160 W-200 mm/s. And this AlMgSiScZr alloy can still exhibit an excellent tensile strength of 393.9 MPa at a moderate temperature of 473 K. After the aging treatment, the tensile properties further increased due to the precipitate hardening of Mg2Si and Al3(Sc, Zr), and the maximum value (580 MPa) was reached at an aging time of 10 h. The average crystal size was almost unchanged after aging treated at 325 ℃ and 24 h, indicating this AlMgSiScZr alloy has an improved thermal stability. The AlMgSiScZr alloy is recommended to substitute some particular titanium alloys in aerospace field afterwards.

Key words: Laser powder bed fusion, AlMgSiScZr alloy, Microstructure, Tensile behavior, Thermal stability, Phase evolution

Jiang Bi, Zhenglong Lei, Yanbin Chen, Xi Chen, Ze Tian, Nannan Lu, Xikun Qin, Jingwei Liang. Microstructure, tensile properties and thermal stability of AlMgSiScZr alloy printed by laser powder bed fusion[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2021, 69: 200-211.

Figures/Tables 15

Fig. 1. The scanning strategies used for the fabrication of tensile specimens.

Fig. 2. The crystal size and orientation of AlMgSiScZr alloy fabricated at different scanning strategies: (a) SM-67°, (b) SM-90°, (c) DM-0°, (d) DM-67°, (e) DM-0°-500 mm/s and (f) DM-67°-500 mm/s.

Table 1 The specimen number and process parameters of tensile samples fabricated at different scanning strategies.

Specimen number	Scanning strategy	Laser power (W)	Scanning speed (mm/s)
1	SM-67°	160	200
2	SM-90°	160	200
3	DM-0°	160	200
4	DM-67°	160	200
5	DM-0°	200	500
6	DM-67°	200	500

Fig. 3. The tensile properties of AlMgSiScZr samples fabricated at various scanning strategies: (a) true stress-strain curves and (b) strength and elongation.

Fig. 4. The fracture appearances of AlMgSiScZr alloy fabricated at various scanning strategies: (a) SM-67°, (b) SM-90°, (c) DM-0°, (d) DM-67°, (e) DM-0°-500 mm/s and (f) DM-67°-500 mm/s.

Fig. 5. Tensile properties and fracture morphologies of AlMgSiScZr alloy (SM-67°) tested at different temperatures: (a) true stress-strain curves, (b) strength and elongation, (c) fracture morphologies obtained at 473 K, (d) 523 K and (e) 573 K.

Fig. 6. The microstructure of AlMgSiScZr alloy (No. 1) treated at 325 ℃ and different aging times: (a, j) 0 h, (b) 2 h, (c) 4 h, (d, k) 6 h, (e) 8 h, (f) 10 h, (g, l) 12 h, (h) 18 h and (i, m) 24 h.

Fig. 7. Tensile properties of AlMgSiScZr alloy (No. 1) treated at 325 ℃ and different aging time: (a) true stress-strain curves, (b) strength and elongation.

Fig. 8. XRD patterns of AlMgSiScZr alloy: (a) AF and AT conditions and (b) magnification of zone b.

Fig. 9. Element distribution of AlMgSiScZr alloy at different conditions: (a-d) as-fabricated and (e-h) aging treated at 325 ℃ and 4 h.

Fig. 10. Phase identification of AlMgSiScZr alloy at different conditions: (a-c) as fabricated and (d-f) aging treated at 325 ℃ and 4 h.

Fig. 11. Phase identification of AlMgSiScZr alloy treated at 325 ℃ and different aging time: (a-c) 6 h, (d-f) 12 h and (g-i) 24 h.

Fig. 12. Pinning effect of precipitation: (a) dislocation, (b-c) grain boundary, and (d) HRTEM of zone D.

Fig. 13. Supercell model and EDS line scanning result of core-shell Al3(Sc, Zr) precipitation.

Fig. 14. Grain size distribution of fine equiaxed crystals obtained at different aging times: (a), (e) 0 h; (b), (f) 6 h; (c), (g) 12 h and (d), (h) 24 h.

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