Effects of ESMT on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-8Zn-2Mg-1.5Cu-0.15Sc-0.15Zr Cast Alloy in Squeeze Casting Process

Abstract

Al-8Zn-2Mg-1.5Cu-0.15Sc-0.15Zr alloy with high-strength performance as well as good castability has been developed. In this study, effects of electromagnetic stirring melt treatment (ESMT) on microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy in the squeeze casting process were investigated. The results show that solidification structure and mechanical properties are significantly improved by ESMT; compared with the conventional squeeze casting, the average grain size decreases from 112 μm without ESMT to 53 μm with ESMT. Meanwhile coarse primary Al3(Sc, Zr) particles unavoidably occurred in cases without ESMT disappear, and segregation degree of the main elements of Zn, Mg, Cu are greatly alleviated; the tensile strength increases from 590 MPa to 610 MPa, and the elongation increases from 9% to 11%. The structure refinement and homogenization should owe to uniform temperature and composition distribution by ESMT under squeeze casting with rapid solidification.