Mechanical Properties of Dispersion-Hardened P/M Al-Mn-Cu-Mg-Zn Alloys at Elevated Temperature

Abstract

In order to improve the high-temperature strength of an Al-Cu-Mg alloy, Mn was added at supersaturation to form a high-density dispersion of an intermetallic phase. In the P/M Al-3.6Mn- 6.4Cu-3.6Zn-1.7Mg alloy (mass%), rod-like Al-Mn-Cu-Zn quaternary intermetallic phases (Q phase) several hundred nanometers in length were dispersed in the matrix. The chemical composition of the Q phase was determined by TEM/EDX to be 78.8Al-12Mn-8Cu-1.2Zn (at%). The crystal system, space group, and lattice parameters of the unit cell were identified to be orthorhombic, Cmcm and a = 0.76, b = 2.11, c = 1.25 nm, respectively, by Rietveld analysis. Since the matrix of the alloy obtained was of the Al-Cu-Mg-(Zn) system, age-hardening occurred by formation of a GPB zone at room temperature and 448 K. At the peak level of age-hardening at room temperature, the tensile strength at room temperature was 704 MPa, and the elongations were 8.0%. The high temperature strengths at 523 and 573 K were 319 and 141 MPa, respectively, and the elongations were 17 and 34%, respectively.