High-Temperature Compression Creep Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of Al-12Ce and Al-12Ce-0.4Sc (wt.%) Alloys
摘要
This study examines the high-temperature compression creep behavior of swaged Al-12Ce and Al-12Ce-0.4Sc (wt.%) alloys to evaluate the influence of Sc on creep resistance. Compression creep tests were conducted in the temperature range of 300–350 °C, with applied stresses of 30-45 MPa for the Al-12Ce and 55-75 MPa for the Al-12Ce-0.4Sc alloy. Microstructural characterization revealed that the addition of 0.4 wt.% Sc refined the pro-eutectic Al11Ce3 phase, reducing its average length from ~17.53 µm to ~12.23 µm, while simultaneously increasing its volume fraction from ~6.11 vol.% to ~9.18 vol.%. The Al-12Ce alloy exhibited a creep rate of 1.743 × 10−5 s−1 at 300 °C/45 MPa, whereas the Sc-modified alloy showed a significantly reduced creep rate of 5.55 × 10−7 s−1 at 75 MPa due to the presence of fine Al3Sc precipitates. The true stress exponent (n ≈ 4) and apparent activation energy (Qc = 204.8–225.3 kJ·mol−1) indicate that creep in both alloys is controlled by a dislocation climb mechanism. Overall, Sc addition markedly enhances creep resistance through microstructural refinement and precipitation strengthening.