Effect of Non-isothermal Retrogression and Re-ageing Treatments on theMicrostructure and Mechanical Properties of 7050 Alloy
WU Yiping1, HE Zhenyi1, ZHOU Zhigang1, XIONG Hanqing1, JIA Yuzhen2, LI Chengbo3, LI Guofeng1
1 Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha 410022; 2 Bichamp Cutting Technology (Hunan) Co., Ltd., Changsha 410200; 3 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410200
Abstract: The effects of “non-isothermal retrogression and re-ageing” treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a 7050 alloy were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), hardness test and tensile test. During the non-isothermal retrogression process with a heating rate of 5 ℃/min, five terminal temperatures of 160 ℃, 190 ℃, 220 ℃, 260 ℃ and 300 ℃ were selected. The results show that after the non-isothermal retrogression and re-ageing treatment of 120 ℃/24 h+RT5 ℃/min190 ℃+120 ℃/24 h, the alloy presents the best mechanical properties with the ultimate tensile strength of 588 MPa, yield tensile strength of 558 MPa and ductility of 23%, respectively; the hardness is 199HV. In the pre-aged alloy, the equilbrium η phases along the grain boundaries are discontinuously located with an average size of 49—70 nm, and the η′ phases in the grains have an average size of 5—6 nm. During the retrogression with the continuous temperature increasing to 190 ℃, the pre-precipitated phases are partly dissolved and the sizes are smaller: the grain boundary η phases have an average size of 5—10 nm, and the phases within the grains have an average size of 3—6 nm. The retrogression alloy has multiple and parallel grain boundaries with unobvious PFZ. The re-aged alloy has the biggest phases in an average size of 91—108 nm along grain boundaries and diffuse phases inside grains in an average size of 4—10 nm, and its PFZ becomes clear with a width of 41 nm.