Abstract
The effect of a minor Sc addition (within 0.1 wt.%) to improve the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of Al-Zr-Sc conductor wires was investigated. The thermal-resistance properties of Sc-containing wires after thermal exposure at 310 °C and 400 °C were evaluated according to the international standard IEC 62,004. The results show that a simultaneous improvement of mechanical properties and electrical conductivity while maintaining outstanding thermal resistance was achieved by microalloying with Sc in comparison with the base Al-Zr alloy. This was attributed to the precipitation of a high number density of Al3(Sc, Zr) nanoparticles. Excellent combination of ultimate tensile strength and electrical conductivity (188–197 MPa and 58.0–59.5% IACS) was obtained in Sc-containing alloys using conventional thermomechanical process (e.g., casting, rolling and wire drawing) to fulfill the particular requirements of different standard conductor grades. The newly developed conductor alloys provide a much-needed outstanding performance for overhead line applications in the electric industry.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Murashkin MY, Sabirov I, Sauvage X, Valiev RZ (2016) Nanostructured Al and Cu Alloys with Superior Strength and Electrical Conductivity. J. Mater Sci. 51:33–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9354-9
Blackburn, JL (2017) Symmetrical Components for Power Systems Engineering. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
Al-Mg-Si alloy wire for overhead line conductor JB/T 8134-1997.
Yuan W, Liang Z, Zhang C, Wei L (2012) Effects of La addition on the mechanical properties and thermal-resistant properties of Al–Mg–Si–Zr alloys based on AA 6201. Mater. Des. 34:788–792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2011.07.003
Yuan W, Liang Z (2011) Effect of Zr addition on properties of Al–Mg–Si aluminum alloy used for all aluminum alloy conductor. Mater. Des. 32(8-9):4195–4200.
Thermal-resistant aluminium alloy wire for overhead line conductor International Standard IEC 62004, 2007-2,
Li H, Bin J, Liu J, Gao Z, Lu X (2012) Precipitation evolution and coarsening resistance at 400 °C of Al microalloyed with Zr and Er. Scr. Mater. 67(1):73–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2012.03.026
Muthaiah VS, Mula S (2016) Effect of zirconium on thermal stability of nanocrystalline aluminium alloy prepared by mechanical alloying. J. Alloys Compd. 688:571–580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.07.038
Robson J, Prangnell P (2001) Dispersoid precipitation and process modelling in zirconium containing commercial aluminium alloys. Acta Mater. 49(4):599–613. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(00)00351-7
Knipling KE, Dunand DC, Seidman DN (2008) Precipitation evolution in Al–Zr and Al–Zr–Ti alloys during aging at 450–600 °C. Acta Mater. 56(6):1182–1195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2007.11.011
Liua L, Jianga J.-T, Zhanga B, Shaoa W-Z, Zhen L (2019) Enhancement of strength and electrical conductivity for a dilute Al-Sc-Zr alloy via heat treatments and cold drawing. J. Mater. Sci. Tech. 35(6):962–971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2018.12.023
Guan R, Shen Y, Zhao Z, Wang X (2017) A high-strength, ductile Al-0.35Sc-0.2Zr alloy with good electrical conductivity strengthened by coherent nanosized-precipitates. J. Mater. Sci. Tech. 33(3):215–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2017.01.017
Fuller CB, Seidman DN, Dunand DC (2003) Mechanical properties of Al(Sc,Zr) alloys at ambient and elevated temperatures. Acta Mater. 51(16):4803–4814. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(03)00320-3
Knipling KE, Karnesky RA, Lee CP, Dunand DC, Seidman DN (2010) Precipitation evolution in Al–0.1Sc, Al–0.1Zr and Al–0.1Sc–0.1Zr (at.%) alloys during isochronal aging. Acta Mater. 58(15):5184–5195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2010.05.054.
Knipling KE, Seidman DN, Dunand DC (2011) Ambient- and high-temperature mechanical properties of isochronally aged Al–0.06Sc, Al–0.06Zr and Al–0.06Sc–0.06Zr (at.%) alloys. Acta Mater. 59(3):943–954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2010.10.017.
Zhou W, Cai B, Li W, Liu Z, Yang S, Heat-resistant Al–0.2Sc–0.04Zr electrical conductor (2012) Mater. Sci. Eng. A 552:353–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2012.05.051.
Alabin AN, Belov NA, Korotkova NO, Samoshina1 ME (2017) Effect of annealing on the electrical resistivity and strengthening of low-alloy Alloys of the Al – Zr – Si system. Met. Sci. Heat Treat. 58(9):527–531. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11041-017-0048-6.
Morozova A, Mogucheva A, Bukin D, Lukianova O, Korotkova N, Belov N, Kaibyshev R (2017) Effect of Si and Zr on the microstructure and properties of Al-Fe-Si-Zr alloys. Metals 7(11):495. https://doi.org/10.3390/met7110495
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) under the Grant No. CRDPJ 514651-17 and Rio Tinto Aluminum through the Research Chair in the Metallurgy of Aluminum Transformation at University of Quebec at Chicoutimi.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
About this paper
Cite this paper
Shao, Q., Elgallad, E., Maltais, A., Chen, XG. (2023). Developing Al-Zr-Sc Alloys as High-Temperature-Resistant Conductors for Electric Overhead Line Applications. In: Broek, S. (eds) Light Metals 2023. TMS 2023. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22532-1_170
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22532-1_170
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-22531-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-22532-1
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)