Effects of Ag/Sc microadditions on the precipitation of over-aged Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2024.05.032

Abstract

Abstract: Microalloying addition plays a significant role in controlling the characteristics of precipitates in Al alloys. This study investigates the effects of Ag and Sc microalloying addition on the thermal stability of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys, via differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and atom-probe tomography. The results demonstrate that Ag and Sc additions increase the number density of η-MgZn₂ type nano-precipitates (formed during heat treatment) by forming direct (Mg-Ag phase, prototype of precipitate) or indirect precursors (Al₂Sc phase, constituent of precipitate) for the precipitate. In addition, the Ag and Sc elements can effectively prevent the coarsening of η precipitates and facilitate the high-density distribution of fine η precipitates, during the over-aging period, improving the thermal stability of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys. The thermal stability is particularly improved by Ag addition because Ag atoms directly prevent the coarsening of η precipitates by hindering Zn diffusion into the precipitate. On the contrary, Sc addition indirectly prevents the coarsening of η precipitates by depleting the solute species from the Al matrix, enabling abundant precipitates limited growth. Thus Ag addition improves precipitation strengthening by preventing the coarsening of precipitates during over-aging.

Key words: Aluminum alloys, Microalloying, Precipitation, Atom-probe tomography, Thermal stability

Yong-You Kim, Kwangjun Euh, Su-Hyeon Kim, Hyeon-Woo Son. Effects of Ag/Sc microadditions on the precipitation of over-aged Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2025, 209: 219-229.

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