Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on Microstructure and Properties of Spray Formed Al-12.3Zn-2.2Mg-1.5Cu Alloy with Secondary Aging
摘要
The properties and microstructure of spray formed Al-12.3Zn-2.2 Mg-1.5Cu alloy after T6I4 treatment and T6I4 treatment combined with deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) were investigated in this paper. The microstructure of the alloy is characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to analyze precipitate distribution and grain boundary features. The Al-12.3Zn-2.2 Mg-1.5Cu alloy after T6I4 treatment combined with DCT for 2 hours, resulting in the formation of finely and uniformly distributed η' and η phases within the alloy. The hardness increased from 203 to 220.9 HV, an increase of 8.81%. The tensile strength increased from 680 to 775 MPa, an increase of 14.0%. Icorr decreased from 0.0984 to 0.0157 mA cm−2. The corrosion resistance enhancement is attributed to two key microstructural modifications: (1) widened precipitate-free zones and (2) discontinuous grain boundary precipitates that disrupt corrosion pathway formation. It was observed that compared to T6I4 treatment alone, appropriate cryogenic treatment can improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of alloy.