Microstructure and mechanical properties stability of pre-hardening treatment in Al–Cu alloys for pre-hardening forming process

Liping Tang; Pengfei Wei; Zhili Hu; Qiu Pang

doi:10.1007/s12613-023-2758-7

Volume 31 Issue 3

Mar. 2024

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2024 > 31(3): 539-551

Liping Tang, Pengfei Wei, Zhili Hu, and Qiu Pang, Microstructure and mechanical properties stability of pre-hardening treatment in Al–Cu alloys for pre-hardening forming process, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 31(2024), No. 3, pp. 539-551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-023-2758-7

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Liping Tang, Pengfei Wei, Zhili Hu, and Qiu Pang, Microstructure and mechanical properties stability of pre-hardening treatment in Al–Cu alloys for pre-hardening forming process, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 31(2024), No. 3, pp. 539-551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-023-2758-7

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Research Article

Microstructure and mechanical properties stability of pre-hardening treatment in Al–Cu alloys for pre-hardening forming process

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Corresponding authors:
Zhili Hu E-mail: zhilihuhit@163.com

Qiu Pang E-mail: pqiuhit@126.com
Received: 30 June 2023; Revised: 6 October 2023; Accepted: 9 October 2023; Available online: 12 October 2023

Abstract

Abstract

The stability of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the pre-hardened sheets during the pre-hardening forming (PHF) process directly determines the quality of the formed components. The microstructure stability of the pre-hardened sheets was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), while the mechanical properties and formability were analyzed through uniaxial tensile tests and formability tests. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of the pre-hardened alloys exhibited negligible changes after experiencing 1-month natural aging (NA). The deviations of ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and sheet formability (Erichsen value) are all less than 2%. Also, after different NA time (from 48 h to 1 month) is applied to alloys before pre-hardening treatment, the pre-hardened alloys possess stable microstructure and mechanical properties as well. Interestingly, with the extension of NA time before pre-hardening treatment from 48 h to 1 month, the contribution of NA to the pre-hardening treatment is limited. Only a yield strength increment of 20 MPa is achieved, with no loss in elongation. The limited enhancement is mainly attributed to the fact that only a limited number of clusters are transformed into Guinier-Preston (GP) zones at the early stage of pre-hardening treatment, and the formation of θ'' phase inhibits the nucleation and growth of GP zones as the precipitated phase evolves.
- Al–Cu alloy;
- pre-hardened alloy;
- natural aging;
- mechanical properties;
- microstructure

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