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DSC Study on Phase Transitions and Their Correlation with Properties of Overaged Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys

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Abstract

This article investigates the phase transitions of complex quaternary Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys with Zr addition at overaged conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is employed to quantitatively analyze the phase transformation phenomena of a wide range of 7xxx series alloys through endothermic and exothermic reactions. The DSC observations detailing heat effect peaks and thermal parameters of η′ dissolution contain valuable information on the presence of equilibrium phases and the optimum alloying element contents. Based on DSC experimental data and phase diagrams, the balance of critical properties such as strength and electrical conductivity of Al-Zn-Cu-Mg 7xxx series alloys has been studied by considering the formation, dissolution, and incipient melting of S and T phase, dissolution of η′ phase as well as the formation of η phase. Nine Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys have been studied through microstructural examination and detailed DSC analysis. The correlation between the properties and the DSC data of the selected alloys has been analyzed.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support from Southampton University, UK and British Aluminium Plate, Birmingham, UK is gratefully acknowledged. The experimental alloys were produced and the tests of yield strength and electrical conductivity of the alloys were performed at QinetiQ, Farnborough, UK. Their technical support for this work is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, People’s Republic of China

    X. M. Li

  2. Materials Research Group, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    M. J. Starink

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  1. X. M. Li
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  2. M. J. Starink
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Correspondence to X. M. Li.

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Li, X.M., Starink, M.J. DSC Study on Phase Transitions and Their Correlation with Properties of Overaged Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 21, 977–984 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-011-9973-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-011-9973-5

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