Effect of Composite Refining Modification and Homogenization Treatment on the Microstructure and Properties of 5356 Aluminum Magnesium Alloy
摘要
A novel composite process has been developed to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of 5356 aluminum magnesium alloy. The alloy grain size, evolution patterns, and causes of defects such as pinholes and inclusions, were investigated in the as-cast state, refinement modification, and refinement modification and homogenization heat-treatment conditions, yielding the optimal homogenization heat-treatment process parameters. The alloy microstructure was studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), reflection/total reflection microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The alloy mechanical properties were characterized and analyzed by hardness and tensile tests, which proved that, after the proposed composite treatment, the hardness (HV), tensile strength (σb), elongation (δ), and comprehensive performance index (Q) of the alloy reached 105.7 HV, 310 MPa, 25.9%, and 522.0, with respective improvements of 8.86%, 3.68%, 240.79% and 21.09%, compared to the as-cast condition. Such enhancement of the alloy's mechanical properties and microstructural stability after the composite process treatment was attributed to significant refinement of the α-Al phase, rounding of the β-Al3Mg2 tip, and significant reduction of defects. The optimal homogenization heat-treatment parameters of 420°C and 22 h duration were based on the sinusoidal solution derived from the second diffusion equation.