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Effect of Calcium on Structure, Phase Composition and Hardening of Al-Zn-Mg Alloys Containing up to 12wt.%Zn

Abstract

The influence of calcium on structure and phase composition of the aluminum alloys, containing additions of zinc up to 12 wt.% and magnesium (3.5 wt.%) was studied. The increase of Zn content leads to formation of Al4Ca primary crystals at lower concentrations of calcium. Zinc is distributed between aluminum solid solution and intermetalic phases (Ca-containing and T- Al2Mg2Zn3) in the alloys of the Al-Zn-Mg-Ca system. The eutectic (Al)+Al4Ca has fine structure and particles of Al4Ca are capable to spheroidization during heat treatment at 500 °С. The maximal level of hardness observed on calcium containing alloys was higher than 200 HB, what gives a reason to expect good strength properties. Due to summarized results it is seen that the Al-Zn-Mg-Ca system is promising for development of new eutectic type high-strength aluminum alloys.

Keywords:
high-strength aluminum alloys; phase composition; phase diagrams; thermodynamic calculations; castings; structure


1 Introduction

AA7005 type aluminum alloys based on the Al-Zn-Mg system with sum content of zinc and magnesium in between 4-7 wt. % are widely used due to good combination of their technological and service properties11 Polmear IJ. Light metals: from traditional alloys to nanocrystals. 4rd ed. Oxford: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann; 2006.,22 Davis JR. Aluminum and aluminum alloys. Ohio: ASM; 1993. ASM Specialty Handbook. . These alloys are characterized by intermediate strength, high ductility, good level of welding properties and good resistance to corrosion. However, the increase of the content of alloying elements leads to corrosion cracking. Thus high strength aluminum alloys were developed on the base of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu system (АА7075, 7055, 7085 etc.), where the summed content of zinc, magnesium and copper achieves 12-13 wt.% (Zn+Mg up to 10 wt.%)11 Polmear IJ. Light metals: from traditional alloys to nanocrystals. 4rd ed. Oxford: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann; 2006.

2 Davis JR. Aluminum and aluminum alloys. Ohio: ASM; 1993. ASM Specialty Handbook.

3 Marlaud T, Deschamps A, Bley F, Lefebvre W and Baroux B. Evolution of precipitate microstructures during the retrogression and re-ageing heat treatment of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. Acta Materialia. 2010; 58(14):4814-4826. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2010.05.017.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2010...

4 Marlaud T, Deschamps A, Bley F, Lefebvre W and Baroux B. An Influence of alloy composition and heat treatment on precipitate composition in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys. Acta Materialia. 2010; 58(1):248-260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2009.09.003.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2009...

5 Du ZW, Sun ZM, Shao BL, Zhou TT and Chen CQ. Quantitative evaluation of precipitates in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy after isothermal aging. Materials Characterization. 2006; 56(2):121-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2005.10.004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2005...

6 Chen J, Zhen L, Yang S, Shao W and Dai S. Investigation of precipitation behavior and related hardening in AA 7055 aluminum alloy. Materials Science and Engineering. 2009; 500:34-42.

7 Desmukh MN, Pandey RK and Mukhopadhyay AK. Fatigue behavior of 7010 aluminum alloy containing scandium. Scripta Materialia. 2005; 52(7):645-650. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2004.11.018.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2...

8 Li J-F, Peng Z-W, Li C-X, Jia Z-G, Chen W-J and Zheng Z-Q. Mechanical properties, corrosion behaviors and microstructures of 7075 aluminium alloy with various aging treatments. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China. 2008; 18(4):755-762. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(08)60130-2.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(08)...

9 Senkov ON, Shagiev MR, Senkova SV and Miracle DB. Precipitation of Al3(Sc,Zr) particles in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Sc-Zr alloy during conventional solution heat treatment and its effect on tensile properties. Acta Materialia. 2008; 56(15):3723-3738. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2008.04.005.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2008...
-1010 Li Y, Li P, Zhao G, Liu X, Cui J. The constituents in Al-10Zn-2.5Mg-2.5Cu aluminum alloy. Materials Science and Engineering. 2005; 397:204-208.. Due to the high strength of the alloys (UTS up to 700-750 MPa) these alloys are of especial interest and are used in different fields11 Polmear IJ. Light metals: from traditional alloys to nanocrystals. 4rd ed. Oxford: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann; 2006.. However, because of the small amounts of the eutectic, alloys of the 7xxx type has very low casting properties (in particular hot tearing). For this reason the usage of these alloys for production of complicated castings is difficult, although several attempts were made1111 Zolotorevskiy VS, Belov NA and Glazoff MV. Casting aluminum alloys. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2007. p. 539..

An addition of eutectic forming elements (in particular Ni) could be used to improve casting properties of 7xxx type alloys as it was reported in works1111 Zolotorevskiy VS, Belov NA and Glazoff MV. Casting aluminum alloys. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2007. p. 539.

12 Belov NA, Aksenov AA and Eskin DG. Multicomponent phase diagrams: applications for commercial aluminum alloys. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2005.

13 Belov NA and Zolotorevskij VS. The effect of nickel on the structure, mechanical and casting properties of aluminium alloy of 7075 type. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Al-Alloys and Their Physical and Mechanical Properties (ICAA8); 2002; Cambridge, UK. Dürnten: Trans Tech Publications; 2002. p. 935-940.

14 Axenov AA, Belov NA and Zolotorevskij VSAluminum-based material and a method for manufacturing products from aluminum-based materialUSPatent 6.585.932 B12003July1

15 Belov NA and Zolotorevskii VS. Casting alloys on the base of aluminum-nickel eutectic (nikalines) as possible alternative to silumins. TsvetnyeMetally. 2003; 2:99-105.

16 Belov NA, Cheverikin VV, Eskin DG and Turchin AN. Effect of Al3Ni and Mg2Si eutectic phases on casting properties and hardening of an Al-7% Zn-3% Mg alloy. In: Proceedings of the 10th Internatinal Conference on Al-Alloys (ICAA10); 2006; Vancouver, CA. Dürnten: Trans Tech Publications; 2006. p. 413-418.

17 Belov NA, Zolotorevskij VS and Cheverikin VVAluminum-based materialRUPatent 22453882005Jan27
-1818 Belov NA. Quantitative phase analysis of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Ni phase diagram in the region of compositions of high strength nickalines. Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals. 2010; 51(3):243-249. http://dx.doi.org/10.3103/S1067821210030090.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3103/S1067821210030...
. Aluminum alloys containing (Al) + Al3Ni eutectic and aluminum matrix with Mg + Zn up to 10% allows to achieve the unique combination of mechanical and technological properties, what was observed on experimental alloys. The alloy Al-7%Zn-3%Mg-4%Ni1515 Belov NA and Zolotorevskii VS. Casting alloys on the base of aluminum-nickel eutectic (nikalines) as possible alternative to silumins. TsvetnyeMetally. 2003; 2:99-105.

16 Belov NA, Cheverikin VV, Eskin DG and Turchin AN. Effect of Al3Ni and Mg2Si eutectic phases on casting properties and hardening of an Al-7% Zn-3% Mg alloy. In: Proceedings of the 10th Internatinal Conference on Al-Alloys (ICAA10); 2006; Vancouver, CA. Dürnten: Trans Tech Publications; 2006. p. 413-418.

17 Belov NA, Zolotorevskij VS and Cheverikin VVAluminum-based materialRUPatent 22453882005Jan27
-1818 Belov NA. Quantitative phase analysis of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Ni phase diagram in the region of compositions of high strength nickalines. Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals. 2010; 51(3):243-249. http://dx.doi.org/10.3103/S1067821210030090.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3103/S1067821210030...
should be marked out from this group of alloys. This material has strength of the same level as AA7075 but its casting properties are much better, what allows the production of shaped castings.

However, high price of nickel, its relatively small world resources11 Polmear IJ. Light metals: from traditional alloys to nanocrystals. 4rd ed. Oxford: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann; 2006. and high demand for this element for production of super alloys prevents wide use of this component for aluminum alloys. Thus examination of other eutectic forming elements, which give similar effect to structure as nickel, but do not have above mentioned minuses, is reasonable.

We believe that one of the most promising elements among them is calcium that, similar to nickel, forms with aluminum a diagram of eutectic type. According to the data22 Davis JR. Aluminum and aluminum alloys. Ohio: ASM; 1993. ASM Specialty Handbook. , in the Al-Ca system the L→(Al) + Al4Ca eutectic reaction takes place at 7.6%Ca and 617 °C, which is rather close to the calculated values obtained in the Thermo-Calc software application (Figure 1). In terms of abundance in nature, calcium holds the 3rd place among all the metals (about 3.4 wt%), behind aluminium and iron11 Polmear IJ. Light metals: from traditional alloys to nanocrystals. 4rd ed. Oxford: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann; 2006., and its density is lower than that of silicon (1.542 versus 2.328 g/sm33 Marlaud T, Deschamps A, Bley F, Lefebvre W and Baroux B. Evolution of precipitate microstructures during the retrogression and re-ageing heat treatment of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. Acta Materialia. 2010; 58(14):4814-4826. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2010.05.017.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2010...
). In recent years, many publications considering calcium-containing magnesium alloys have appeared1919 Moore DM and Morris LR. A new superplastic aluminium sheet alloy. Materials Science and Engineering. 1980; 43(1):85-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0025-5416(80)90211-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0025-5416(80)9...

20 Swaminathan K and Padmanabhan KA. Tensile flow and fracture behaviour of a superplastic Al-Ca-Zn alloy. Journal of Materials Science. 1990; 25(11):4579-4586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01129909.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01129909...
-2121 Aljarrah M, Medraj M, Wang X, Essadiqi E, Muntasar A and Denes G. Experimental investigation of the Mg-Al-Ca system. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2007; 436(1-2):131-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.07.034.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2006...
. At the same time, the use of calcium for alloying of aluminium alloys is very limited2020 Swaminathan K and Padmanabhan KA. Tensile flow and fracture behaviour of a superplastic Al-Ca-Zn alloy. Journal of Materials Science. 1990; 25(11):4579-4586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01129909.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01129909...

21 Aljarrah M, Medraj M, Wang X, Essadiqi E, Muntasar A and Denes G. Experimental investigation of the Mg-Al-Ca system. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2007; 436(1-2):131-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.07.034.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2006...

22 Kono N, Tsuchida Y, Muromachi S and Watanabe H. Study of the Al-Ca-Zn ternary phase diagram. Light Metals. 1985; 35(10):574-580.
-2323 Prince A. The Al-Ca-Zn system. Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams. 1989; 10(5):540-545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412...
. As a rule, this element is considered to be a harmful impurity. Several attempts to develop alloys based on Al-Ca system (in particular those with increased zinc content), which were characterized with tendency to superplasticity were carried during 70th-80th of the previous century1919 Moore DM and Morris LR. A new superplastic aluminium sheet alloy. Materials Science and Engineering. 1980; 43(1):85-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0025-5416(80)90211-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0025-5416(80)9...
,2020 Swaminathan K and Padmanabhan KA. Tensile flow and fracture behaviour of a superplastic Al-Ca-Zn alloy. Journal of Materials Science. 1990; 25(11):4579-4586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01129909.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01129909...
. Despite positive results these works were not continued. There is no literature data covering possibility of using Ca as alloying element for casting aluminum alloys, although structure of the Al-Ca phase diagram (Figure 1) gives promising predictions.

Figure 1
Binary Al-Ca eutectic.

Limited amount of experimental data could be found in the literature for the Al-Ca-Zn ternary system (phase diagram of quaternary Al-Ca-Mg-Zn system is unknown). Kono et al.2222 Kono N, Tsuchida Y, Muromachi S and Watanabe H. Study of the Al-Ca-Zn ternary phase diagram. Light Metals. 1985; 35(10):574-580. studied the system using micrography, inverse rate thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and EPMA analysis. Later, Prince2323 Prince A. The Al-Ca-Zn system. Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams. 1989; 10(5):540-545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412...
assessed the system based on the work of Kono et al. According to2323 Prince A. The Al-Ca-Zn system. Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams. 1989; 10(5):540-545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412...
aluminum solid solution may be in equilibrium with Al2CaZn2 and Al13Ca.

The main target of the present work was to study the influence of Ca on structure, phase composition and as a result, mechanical properties of the Al-Zn-Mg alloys. Selected compositions of the alloys were providing essential effect of age hardening.

2 Experimental Procedure

Aluminum-based alloys of the Al-Zn-Mg-Ca system with constant content of Mg (3.5 wt%) were the objects of the study (Table 1). Most of the alloys had content of zinc varying from 6 to 12 wt.%, what corresponds to the concentration field where the effect of age hardening is maximal99 Senkov ON, Shagiev MR, Senkova SV and Miracle DB. Precipitation of Al3(Sc,Zr) particles in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Sc-Zr alloy during conventional solution heat treatment and its effect on tensile properties. Acta Materialia. 2008; 56(15):3723-3738. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2008.04.005.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2008...
. Ternary alloy Al-3.5%Mg-12%Zn has its position close to maximal solid solubility of magnesium and zinc in aluminum solid solution in accordance with Al-Mg-Zn phase diagram22 Davis JR. Aluminum and aluminum alloys. Ohio: ASM; 1993. ASM Specialty Handbook. . Experimental alloys were prepared in an electric furnace in graphite-chamotte crucibles using 99.99% pure Al, 99.9% pure Mg, 99.9% pure Zn and 99.8% metallic calcium. Pieces of calcium were inputted into capsules made of aluminum foil and dipped under surface of the melt and kept there until complete dissolution in the melt in order to prevent the burning of calcium. Melting and casting temperatures were in the range of 720-740 °C. Alloys were cast in graphite molds with internal dimensions of 15 × 30 × 180 mm; the cooling rate (Vc) was about 10 K s–1. Chemical analysis of selected samples showed the deviation from the nominal concentrations of Zn and Mg to be less than 5%. Binary alloys with compositions close to eutectic point (Al) + Al4Ca were prepared for additional control of deviation from nominal concentration of Ca. Microstructures of the following alloys were analyzed: Al-7.2%Ca, Al-7.6%Ca and Al-8.0%Ca. Alloys had hypoeutectic, eutectic and hypereutectic structure correspondingly, what is in accordance with a phase diagram reported in the reference22 Davis JR. Aluminum and aluminum alloys. Ohio: ASM; 1993. ASM Specialty Handbook. . These alloys were taken as standards for chemical analysis of Ca. An annealing of the samples was carried in the electrical furnace “Nabetherm” in the air atmosphere. The temperature gradient inside the furnace was 2K. Ageing of samples was carried in drying oven with forced air movement.

Table 1
Chemical compositions of aluminum-based alloys of the Al-Zn-Mg-Ca system.

The structure was examined in optical (OM, Neophot-30) and scanning electron (SEM, TESCAN VEGA 3) microscopes and by electron microprobe analysis (EMPA, OXFORD AZtec). Polished samples cut from the central part of the ingots were objects of studying. Mechanical polishing (Struers Labopol-5) was used as well as electrolytic polishing, as these methods complement one another and enable the complete observation of the microstructure. Electrolytic polishing was made using 12 VDC in electrolyte containing 6 parts of ethyl alcohol, 1 part of HClO4 and 1 part of glycerin.

For the thermal analysis a differential scanning calorimeter Seteram Labsys DSC-16 was used; heating and cooling curves were recorded at a rate of ~0.08 K s-1. Archimedes method was applied for the determination of density of the samples. The commercial alloy AA7055 was used as a standard material for comparison. Brinell hardness test (HB) was used to evaluate hardening of the alloys after heat treatment (load 2500 MPa, indenter diameter 5 mm and load time 30 s).

Calculations of phase equilibria were carried out with the use of Thermo-Calc software (database TTAL5)2424 Backerud L. Solidification characteristics of aluminium alloys: wrought alloys. Schaumburg: American Foundry Society; 1986. v. 1.,2525 Backerud L, Chai G and Tamminen J. Solidification characteristics of aluminium alloys: foundry alloys. Schaumburg: American Foundry Society; 1990. v. 2..

3 Results and Discussion

Experimental alloys were selected based on the carried out calculations of the phase composition using Thermo-Calc (Figures

2a, b). An increase of the zinc concentration leads to formation of the primary Al4Ca crystals at lower concentrations of Ca (monovariant curve a-b of L →(Al) + Al4Ca reaction). Position of this line is in accordance with experimental data (Figure 2c). In particular faced primary crystals could be easily observed in the structure of the alloy Al-12%Zn-4%Ca-3.5%Mg (Figure 3a). The as-casts structure of hypoeutectic alloys consists of primary crystals of the aluminum solid solution, which have morphology of dendrite cells, eutectic colonies (Al) + Al4Ca and veins of non-equilibrium eutectic, which mostly consist of Al2Mg3Zn3 phase, and rarely of MgZn2 (Figure 3b). The structure of the Al-9%Zn-4%Ca-3.5%Mg alloy was mostly eutectic with fine morphology of Ca-containing phase (Figure 3c).

Figure 2
Liquidus (a) and solidus (b) projections and compositions of experimental alloys (c) of the Al-3.5%Mg-Zn-Ca section.
Figure 3
Microstructures of the alloys Al-3.5%Mg-Zn-Ca in as-cast state: (а) 12%Zn and 4%Ca; (b) 11%Zn and 3%Ca; (c) 9%Zn and 4%Ca. (а, b) SEM; (c) OM.

The eutectic alloys, where the morphology of intermetallic phases is globular have the best combination of mechanical properties1111 Zolotorevskiy VS, Belov NA and Glazoff MV. Casting aluminum alloys. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2007. p. 539.

12 Belov NA, Aksenov AA and Eskin DG. Multicomponent phase diagrams: applications for commercial aluminum alloys. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2005.

13 Belov NA and Zolotorevskij VS. The effect of nickel on the structure, mechanical and casting properties of aluminium alloy of 7075 type. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Al-Alloys and Their Physical and Mechanical Properties (ICAA8); 2002; Cambridge, UK. Dürnten: Trans Tech Publications; 2002. p. 935-940.

14 Axenov AA, Belov NA and Zolotorevskij VSAluminum-based material and a method for manufacturing products from aluminum-based materialUSPatent 6.585.932 B12003July1

15 Belov NA and Zolotorevskii VS. Casting alloys on the base of aluminum-nickel eutectic (nikalines) as possible alternative to silumins. TsvetnyeMetally. 2003; 2:99-105.

16 Belov NA, Cheverikin VV, Eskin DG and Turchin AN. Effect of Al3Ni and Mg2Si eutectic phases on casting properties and hardening of an Al-7% Zn-3% Mg alloy. In: Proceedings of the 10th Internatinal Conference on Al-Alloys (ICAA10); 2006; Vancouver, CA. Dürnten: Trans Tech Publications; 2006. p. 413-418.
-1717 Belov NA, Zolotorevskij VS and Cheverikin VVAluminum-based materialRUPatent 22453882005Jan27. For this reason one of the main targets of studying of the Ca containing alloys is to determine the tendency of the Al4Ca phase to spheriodization as well as peculiarities of this process during heat treatments. Two-step heating was used for the annealing: 450 °С, 3 h + 500 °С, 3 h. After the annealing the alloys were quenched (in the cold water). Dissolution of the non-equilibrium eutectic was the main process running during the first stage of the annealing while globular particles of Al4Ca were formed during the second stage. Thus, the favorable microstructure which forms during the annealing in the alloys with large fraction of eutectic is a result of the sperodization process, that was observed during the experiment (Figure 4).

Figure 4
Microstructure of the alloy Al-11%Zn-3%Ca-3.5%Mg in as-quenched state (500 °С), SEM.

Zinc enters in relatively large amounts in the Ca-containing phases (particularly in ternary compound: Al3ZnCa according to2222 Kono N, Tsuchida Y, Muromachi S and Watanabe H. Study of the Al-Ca-Zn ternary phase diagram. Light Metals. 1985; 35(10):574-580. or Al2CaZn2 according to2323 Prince A. The Al-Ca-Zn system. Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams. 1989; 10(5):540-545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412...
). For this reason it's essential to determine distribution of zinc between intermetallic phase and aluminum solid solution (Al). EMPA analysis was applied in order to experimental obtain composition of primary crystals and eutectic intermetallic phases of the alloys. EMPA results for the Al-9%Zn-3%Ca-3.5%Mg alloy in as-quenched state (see in Figure 5b and Table 2) showed that only ~4% of Zn remains in aluminum solid solution, what is two times less in comparison to the alloy without Ca (the solid solution composition for the alloys without Ca (6, 10 and 19 in Table 1) is equal to the alloy composition (after quenching)).

Figure 5
Results of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (a) Al-12%Zn-4%Ca-3.5%Mg alloy in as-cast state; (b) Al-9%Zn-3%Ca-3.5%Mg alloy in as-quenched state (500 °С), SEM/EMPA.
Table 2
The results of EMPA (see Figure 5).

So, the elements distribution (the proposed variant see in Table 3) should be taken into account for selection of optimal composition.

Table 3
Possible distribution of elements between the phases in alloys of the Al-Ca-Zn-Mg system in Al-corner22 Davis JR. Aluminum and aluminum alloys. Ohio: ASM; 1993. ASM Specialty Handbook. ,1212 Belov NA, Aksenov AA and Eskin DG. Multicomponent phase diagrams: applications for commercial aluminum alloys. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2005.,2222 Kono N, Tsuchida Y, Muromachi S and Watanabe H. Study of the Al-Ca-Zn ternary phase diagram. Light Metals. 1985; 35(10):574-580.,2323 Prince A. The Al-Ca-Zn system. Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams. 1989; 10(5):540-545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02882412...
.

Essential information about influence of Ca and temperature on phase composition of the alloys could be obtained from analysis of vertical sections. Calculated vertical section plotted for the constant content of 9%Zn is presented on Figure 6. Calculated results (Figure 6) are in accordance with thermal (Figure 7) and structure (OM, SEM, EMPA) analysis (Figures 2-5). Using the Sheil model2424 Backerud L. Solidification characteristics of aluminium alloys: wrought alloys. Schaumburg: American Foundry Society; 1986. v. 1.

25 Backerud L, Chai G and Tamminen J. Solidification characteristics of aluminium alloys: foundry alloys. Schaumburg: American Foundry Society; 1990. v. 2.
-2626 Saunders N and Miodownik AP. CALPHAD (calculation of phase diagrams): a comprehensive guide. Oxford: Pergamon Press; 1998. of the non-equilibrium solidus temperature was calculated and presented in Figure 6. Additions of Ca lead to decrease of liquidus temperature (maximal decrease is for 26 °C), while non-equilibrium solidus temperature is changing insignificantly. Thus the solidification interval is decreasing what supposes improvement of casting properties1111 Zolotorevskiy VS, Belov NA and Glazoff MV. Casting aluminum alloys. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2007. p. 539.. The DSC results for the Al-9%Zn-3.5%Mg-1%Ca alloy showed the increase of equilibrium and non-equilibrium solidus (Tns in Figure 6) in comparison with the calculated data, what could be explained by decrease of Zn concentration in aluminum solid solution. It should be noted that TTAL5 database2727 Thermo-Calc SoftwareInternetStockholmThermo-Calc Software2015cited 2015 Sept 11Available from: www.thermocalc.com describes Al4Ca phase as a binary compaund and solubility of Zn in this phase is not taken into account. Ternary compounds (AlCaZn) are absent in this database. Thus, a possibility to optimize composition of the alloy using calculations is limited and so requires additional experimental investigations.

Figure 6
Calculated vertical section Al-3.5%Mg-9%Zn-Ca and experimental data from DSC analysis (1 - calculated non-equilibrium solidus).
Figure 7
DSC-curves of the alloy Al-9%Zn-3.5%Mg-1%Ca.

In accordance with above mentioned analysis alloys with concentrations of Ca close to the monovariant line a-b (Figure 2c) have most favorable microstructures, which consist of matrix based on aluminum solid solution of the Al-Zn-Mg system and globular particles of the Al4Ca phase. Hardness tests were carried on quenched alloys after ageing at room temperature for 7 days (T4) and after ageing at 130 °С, 20 h (T6). Conditions of the ageing were chosen in accordance with data obtained for the Al-Zn-Mg-Ni system1515 Belov NA and Zolotorevskii VS. Casting alloys on the base of aluminum-nickel eutectic (nikalines) as possible alternative to silumins. TsvetnyeMetally. 2003; 2:99-105.,1616 Belov NA, Cheverikin VV, Eskin DG and Turchin AN. Effect of Al3Ni and Mg2Si eutectic phases on casting properties and hardening of an Al-7% Zn-3% Mg alloy. In: Proceedings of the 10th Internatinal Conference on Al-Alloys (ICAA10); 2006; Vancouver, CA. Dürnten: Trans Tech Publications; 2006. p. 413-418..

The level of maximal obtained hardness for experimental alloys was higher than 200HB (Table 4), what is similar for the data obtained for the alloys of the AA7075/7055 type (The hardness of wrought alloy 7055 in casting after T6 treatment is 195 HB). The influence of calcium on hardness depends from concentration of Zn: when concentration of zinc is 6%, the addition of Ca leads to decrease of hardness, however, the hardness is not changing when concentration of Zn is 9-12% (Table 4). This effect could be observed on Figure 8, where the influence of addition of 4%Ca on the results of hardness tests is shown. The high level of hardness was observed in a wide range of concentrations of Zn and Ca (Table 4), what gives enough wide field for the optimization of the composition of the alloys.

Table 4
Influence of zinc and calcium on hardness (HB) of the alloys Al-3.5%Mg-Zn-Ca in different states1 1 Q: quenched; T4: aged at ambient temperature (7 days); T6: aged at 130 °C, 20h. .
Figure 8
Influence of Ca on hardness for the alloys with different zinc content: (a) 6%Zn; (b) 12%Zn.

Between other positive effects it must be noted that addition of calcium prevents the formation of T-phase (Al2Mg3Zn3) at grain boundaries and leads to the decrease of density of the alloy. The first effect is especially important for homogenized ingots. To achieve most unfavorable conditions, the selected alloys were annealed at 500 °C and then cooled in the furnace. The alloys which were not alloyed with calcium had long chains of T(Al2Mg3Zn3) phase along the grain borders (Figure 9a). Evidently such type of structure is not satisfactory for work treatment (extruding, rolling, forging, etc.), as such chains lead to the formation of microcracks which leads to formation of brittle intergranual fracture. These chains appear in alloys with small addition of Ca (Figure 9b). However, no chains were observed in alloys with concentration of Ca higher than 2%. Microstructures of these alloys were similar to those in as-quenched state (Figure 4). Due to the fact that calcium has lower density than aluminum it was evident that its effect on density of the alloy will be positive. Density of experimental alloy Al-9%Zn-4%Ca-3.5%Mg appeared to be essentially lower (2.676 g/cm3) than that of the commercial alloys AA7075 (∼2.8 g/cm3). It was also noted that during heat treatment the surface of the alloys containing calcium was not darkening. Thus, the properties of oxide surface of aluminum alloys are improved.

Figure 9
Annealed microstructures of Al-9%Zn-3.5%Mg (а) and Al-9%Zn-3.5%Mg-0.5%Ca; (b) alloys after slow cooling (Vc~0, 1 K s–1).

Due to above mentioned results it is seen that Al-Zn-Mg-Ca system is promising for development of new eutectic type high-strength aluminum alloys.

4 Conclusions

The influence of calcium on structure and phase composition of the aluminum alloys, containing additions of zinc up to 12 wt% and magnesium (3.5 wt%) was studied. It was found that the increase of Zn content leads to formation of Al4Ca primary crystals at lower concentrations of calcium. When zinc content is 12%, the phase boundary corresponds to 3.5% Ca. Zinc is distributed between aluminum solid solution and intermetalic phases (Ca-containing and T-Al2Mg3Zn3) in the alloys of the Al-Zn-Mg-Ca system. So, zinc distribution should be taken into account for selection of optimal composition.

The eutectic (Al) + Al4Ca has dispersed structure and particles of Al4Ca are capable to spheroidization during the heat treatment at 500 °С. Such microstructure may provide the best combination of mechanical properties (particularly strength and ductility). The maximal level of hardness observed on calcium containing alloys was higher than 200 HB, what gives the reason to expect good strength properties too.

Presence of Ca-containing eutectic particles prevents formation of intergranular chains of the Al2Mg3Zn3 phase during cooling at relatively low rates, what is good for the deforming treatment of ingots.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from Russian Scientific Foundation (project number 14-19-00632).

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    3 Nov 2015
  • Date of issue
    Nov-Dec 2015

History

  • Received
    11 Sept 2015
  • Reviewed
    07 Oct 2015
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