Samara National Research University named after Academician S.P. Korolev (Samara, Russia)
А. А. Ragazin, Engineer of the Industry Research Laboratory-4, sanekragazin63@mail.ru
К. А. Мalkin, Laboratory Researcher of the Industry Research Laboratory-4, malkinkirill2000@mail.ru
V. Yu. Аryshensky, Chief Researcher of the Industry Research Laboratory-4, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Arysh54@mail.ru
Siberian State Industrial University (Novokuznetsk, Russia)
Е. V. Aryshensky, Head of the Department of Metalworking by Pressure and Materials Science of the Evraz United West Siberian Metallurgical Plant, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, ar-evgenii@yandex.ru
S. V. Кonovalov, Vice-rector for Scientific and Innovative Activity, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, konovalov@sibsiu.ru
M. N. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Yekaterinburg, Russia)
D. Yu. Rasposienko, Leading Researcher, Candidate of Technical Sciences, rasposienko@imp.uran.ru
The effect of erbium and hafnium additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high-magnesium aluminum alloys sparingly alloyed with scandium and zirconium has been investigated. The alloys under study have been subjected to homogenization using single- and two-stage treatments: 440 °C for 4 h and 370 °C for 8 h + 440 °C for 4 h, respectively. The alloys have then been subjected to hot and cold rolling to a final thickness of 1 mm, followed by annealing at temperatures ranging from 370 to 530 °C for 30 min. After the series of annealing treatments, the microstructure has been examined by transmission electron microscopy, and the mechanical properties have been evaluated by uniaxial tensile testing at room temperature. The study has established that the two-stage homogenization treatment is the most effective heat-treatment condition. This has attributed to the precipitation of fine Al3(Sc, Zr, Hf) particles, as confirmed by the mechanical properties obtained. The alloy containing hafnium exhibits the highest strength in all investigated conditions, with mechanical properties 12–15% higher than those of the erbium-containing alloy. The addition of hafnium retards the coarsening of Al3(Sc, Zr) dispersoids through the formation of a diffusion barrier layer, thereby maintaining a particle size of 10–15 nm and coherent interfaces with the matrix even after annealing at 440 °C, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Due to its higher diffusivity, erbium cannot provide sufficient thermal stability of the fine particles. At temperatures above 370 °C, the particles undergo coarsening to 15–25 nm, which also results in a decrease in strength characteristics.
The research was carried out at the expense of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation No. 22-19-00810, https://rscf.ru/project/22-19-00810/.
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