Enhancing Thermal Stability of Al–Mg–Si–Cu Alloys Through Ag and Sc Additions
摘要
The combinedAluminum additionCharacterization of Ag and Sc in an Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy, along with increased Cu content, significantly enhances thermal stabilityThermal stability by preventing over-aged precipitatePrecipitate growth. Ag addition delaysMicrostructure hardness degradation during over-aging, while Sc reduces precipitationPrecipitation kineticsKinetics in both early and over-aging stages, creating a synergistic effect that improves thermal stabilityThermal stability. Ag enhances stability through disordering and solute segregation, while Sc, though present in low amounts, disrupts Cu diffusion by forming Sc–Cu pairs. This interaction not only enhances thermal stabilityThermal stability but also delays age-hardening kineticsKinetics by disturbing the formation of Cu-containing precipitatesPrecipitate. Ag and Sc accelerate the formation of Mg-rich clusters during early-stage aging, which act as precursors to Cu-containing precipitatesPrecipitate, further contributing to the alloy’s enhanced thermal stabilityThermal stability.