Characterization of Heat-Treatable Aluminum Alloys

Among lightweight alloys, aluminum alloys have a wide range of applications including construction, air and land transportation, packaging, power transmission, etc. Their outstanding properties include, besides their low density, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and high corrosion resistance. Within aluminum alloys, heat-treatable alloys acquire their mechanical properties through precipitation controlled by heat treatments or thermomechanical treatments. In this research line, the microstructural evolution of heat-treatable Al alloys is studied as a function of aging time at different temperatures to establish precipitation mechanisms. The goal is to achieve refinement of the microstructure to optimize mechanical properties. In particular, the effect of microalloying elements on precipitation processes is studied.

Researchers Working on the Topic

Related Publications

• Highly monodisperse core–shell particles created by solid-state reactions. V. Radmilovic, C. Ophus, E. A. Marquis, M. D. Rossell, A. Tolley, A. Gautam, M. Asta, U. Dahmen. Nature Materials 10 710-715 (2011).
• Influence of a microalloying addition of Ag on the precipitation kinetics of an Al–Cu–Mg alloy with high Mg:Cu ratio, C. Macchi, A. Tolley, R. Giovachini, I.J. Polmear, A. Somoza, Acta Materialia 98, 275-287 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2015.07.032
• Solute clustering behavior between 293K and 373K in a 6082 Aluminum alloy. V. Noseda Grau, A. Cuniberti, A. Tolley, V. Castro Riglos, M. Stipcich, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 684, 481-487 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.05.197
• Influence of Si and Ge Microalloying Additions and Plastic Deformation on Precipitation Processes in Al-Cu Based Alloys. Maria Victoria Castro Riglos, Alfredo Tolley, J. Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering 6, 356-372 (2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jmmce.2018.63025
• Significant hardness enhancement in an Al-Cu-Mg alloy with high Cu:Mg ratio by microalloying with Si and Ge. M. Victoria Castro Riglos, Alfredo Tolley. Materialia 4, 255-259 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2018.09.025

Techniques and Associated Equipment

• Alloy fabrication
• Microhardness testing
• Transmission Electron Microscopy