Microstructure and Age hardening response of Al-Mg-Sc-Zr Alloys

Dr Vijaya Singh, DMRL, Hyderabad (INDIA)

AIM: To understand the effects of combined additions of Mg, Sc and Zr to Al on microstructure and strengthening in order to develop cast and wrought Al-alloys suitable for structural applications with capability for high temperature exposure.
Al-Mg alloys are known to possess:
Temperature (C)

680 L 660 L + (Al) 640 (Al) 620 ScAl3 + (Al) L + ScAl3

High corrosion resistance Good weldability These alloys have limitations: Non-heat treatable (Limited strength) Rely on Mn addition (less effective than Zr) for recrystallisation control (results in coarse grains after hot working)

600 Al 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 wt% Scandium

Sc addition to Al leads to the precipitation of Al3Sc dispersoids having following characteristics: L12 crystal structure, coherent interface with the aluminium matrix. High coherency mismatch (~ 1.2%) results in significant lattice strain to block dislocation motion and to impede grain growth. These dispersoids are very stable up to 300 C for several hours.

When Zr is added along with Sc, it replaces some of the Sc atoms in Al3Sc lattice resulting in the formation of Al3(Sc,Zr) dispersoids. These dispersoids have advantages similar to Al3Sc, and are more stable.
NOMINAL COMPOSITIONS OF THE ALLOYS STUDIED: Al (0.12, 0.25, 0.4%) Sc Al (0.12, 0.25, 0.4%) Sc 0.14%Zr Al (1, 3, 4, 8%) Mg 0.25% Sc 0.14% Zr

EFFECT OF Sc and Zr ADDITION ON AS CAST GRAIN SIZE OF Al

Optical micrographs showing grain structures of alloys (a) Al-0.2Sc, (c) Al-0.2Sc-0.14Zr (b) Al-0.4Sc, (d) Al-0.4Sc-0.14Zr

EFFECT OF Mg CONTENT ON AS CAST GRAIN SIZE Al-xMg-0.25Sc-0.14Zr ALLOYS

1 Mg
3 Mg
119 m

124 m

100m

100 m

As Cast
4 Mg 8 Mg

Homogenised
115 m 39 m

20 m

Maximum grain refinement is observed in 8% Mg containing alloy 8% Mg alloy shows angular particles [found to be Al3(Sc,Zr) in another study]

AGE HARDENING BEHAVIOUR OF Al-Sc-(Zr) ALLOYS

100 90 80

100 90 80 70
Hardness (VHN)
Al-0.12Sc Al-0.24Sc Al-0.45Sc Al-0.24Sc-0.14Zr Al-0.45Sc-0.14Zr

Hardness (VHN)

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Cast 200 250 300 350 Aging Temp. (C) 400

60 50 40 30 20 10

Aging Temp. 300C

1 0

10

100

1000

10000

Aging Time (minutes)

AGE HARDENING BEHAVIOUR OF Al-(Mg)-0.25Sc-(0.14Zr) ALLOYS

140
8 Mg

140
8 Mg

120

4 Mg
Hardness (VHN)

120 100

4 Mg 3 Mg 1 Mg

Hardness (VHN)

100
1 Mg

3 Mg

80

0.2 Mg 0 Mg

80
0 Mg

0.2 Mg

60

60 40 Aging at 300C 20
//

40

20 RT 200 250 300 350 400 Aging Temp. (C)

0 1

10

100

1000

10000

Aging Time (minutes)

OBSERVATIONS ON THE AGE HARDENING BEHAVIOUR OF

Al-Sc-(Zr) ALLOYS

Al-(Mg)-0.25Sc-(0.14Zr) ALLOYS

Hardness increases with Sc content in the alloy.

Partial replacement of Sc by Zr does not alter the peak hardness. Presence of Zr delays the onset of over-aging. Peak aging temperature is substantially high (300 C) compared to other commercial Al-alloys.

Peak aging temperature and time are similar to Al-Sc-Zr alloys.

Overall increase in hardness due to Mg is retained over the range of temperature and time studied. This trend suggests that the hardening due to Mg (solid solution effect) is additive to precipitation hardening because of Sc alloying.

TEM MICROGRAPHS SHOWING Al3Sc PRECIPITATION AFTER AGING OF Al0.27%Sc ALLOY

AS CAST CAST+ AGED (300C/24h) CAST+ AGED (400C/24h)

200

100 nm

TENSILE PROPERTIES OF Al-Mg-Sc-Zr ALLOYS STUDIED (ROLLED SHEETS) vis--vis an Al-MgMn-Cr ALLOY

ALLOY Al-2.4Mg-0.27Sc-0.14Zr Al-4.4Mg-0.27Sc-0.14Zr

Temper F F O H343

0.2% PS (MPa) 264 293 145 280

UTS (MPa) 299 369 290 360

%El 13 19 22 8

5083 (Al-4.5Mg-0.7Mn0.15Cr)*

F Hot Rolled ; H343 Cold Worked and Partially Stabilized * Light Alloys by I.J. Polmear, Edward Arnold Publ., 1980, p. 82