Utilizing Magnetic Field Annealing to Enhance the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 7075 Aluminum Alloy

This study explored the influence of magnetic fieldMagnetic field annealing in achieving enhanced mechanical propertiesMechanical properties in terms of yieldYield strength and microhardnessMicrohardness in 7075 aluminum alloyAluminum alloys. A custom-built 9 Tesla (T) superconducting magnetic system was employed during the agingAging of the samples at 120 °C without (0-T) and with (3-T) magnetic fieldMagnetic field to promote the precipitation and growth of strengthening phases. Mechanical propertiesMechanical properties measured with the aid of micromechanical tensile and Vickers hardnessHardness tests showed a 9% improved yieldYield strength and 12% increase in hardnessHardness with respect to increasing magnetic fieldMagnetic field strength to 3-T. The difference in the yieldYield strength for the 0-T and 3-T samples was then explained with yieldYield strength calculation models. This work thus reveals that applying magnetic fieldMagnetic field during the agingAging of 7xxx aluminum alloysAluminum alloys can help tailor and enhance the hardnessHardness and tensile properties of this alloyAlloys.