Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing
Thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys were developed using microalloying with a low level of Sc (≤0.10 wt%) and two thermomechanical processing routes, in which the cold wire drawing was conducted before and after the aging treatment. The mechanical properties, electrical conductivities, an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785423016976 |
| _version_ | 1797745090682159104 |
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| author | Quan Shao Emad M. Elgallad Alexandre Maltais X.-Grant Chen |
| author_facet | Quan Shao Emad M. Elgallad Alexandre Maltais X.-Grant Chen |
| author_sort | Quan Shao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys were developed using microalloying with a low level of Sc (≤0.10 wt%) and two thermomechanical processing routes, in which the cold wire drawing was conducted before and after the aging treatment. The mechanical properties, electrical conductivities, and thermal-resistant properties of several alloys were investigated and evaluated according to the IEC standard of thermal-resistant aluminium conductors. The evolutions of the precipitates and grain structure during processing were also studied. The microalloying with Sc resulted in the precipitation of a large number of fine Al3(Sc,Zr) precipitates, which provided substantially high strength of 188–209 MPa, representing 73–88% improvement compared to the Sc-free base alloy, while maintaining excellent electrical conductivity of 57.4–59.9% IACS. Moreover, the Sc-containing alloys exhibited outstanding thermal-resistant properties, where the maximum strength reduction was limited to ≤6.0% after thermal exposures at 310 and 400 °C. The best combinations of mechanical properties and electrical conductivities of the Sc-containing alloys were obtained after aging at 350 °C for 48 h, following solutionizing at 600 °C for 8 h. Both processing routes yielded comparable precipitation strengthening and strain hardening, and consequently comparable mechanical and electrical properties, where the maximum differences in the strength and electrical conductivity between both routes were 12 MPa and 1.4% IACS, respectively. The excellent combinations of mechanical, electrical, and thermal-resistant properties made the developed alloys promising candidate materials for four standard grades of thermal-resistant aluminium conductors, while taking advantage of an affordable material cost and using conventional thermomechanical processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:19:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07041fbe2f00479b9c721766de4e0363 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2238-7854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:19:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-07041fbe2f00479b9c721766de4e03632023-08-11T05:34:43ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542023-07-012575287545Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processingQuan Shao0Emad M. Elgallad1Alexandre Maltais2X.-Grant Chen3Department of Applied Sciences, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, G7H 2B1, CanadaDepartment of Applied Sciences, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada; Corresponding author.Arvida Research and Development Centre, Rio Tinto Aluminium, Saguenay, QC, G7S 4K8, CanadaDepartment of Applied Sciences, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada; Corresponding author.Thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys were developed using microalloying with a low level of Sc (≤0.10 wt%) and two thermomechanical processing routes, in which the cold wire drawing was conducted before and after the aging treatment. The mechanical properties, electrical conductivities, and thermal-resistant properties of several alloys were investigated and evaluated according to the IEC standard of thermal-resistant aluminium conductors. The evolutions of the precipitates and grain structure during processing were also studied. The microalloying with Sc resulted in the precipitation of a large number of fine Al3(Sc,Zr) precipitates, which provided substantially high strength of 188–209 MPa, representing 73–88% improvement compared to the Sc-free base alloy, while maintaining excellent electrical conductivity of 57.4–59.9% IACS. Moreover, the Sc-containing alloys exhibited outstanding thermal-resistant properties, where the maximum strength reduction was limited to ≤6.0% after thermal exposures at 310 and 400 °C. The best combinations of mechanical properties and electrical conductivities of the Sc-containing alloys were obtained after aging at 350 °C for 48 h, following solutionizing at 600 °C for 8 h. Both processing routes yielded comparable precipitation strengthening and strain hardening, and consequently comparable mechanical and electrical properties, where the maximum differences in the strength and electrical conductivity between both routes were 12 MPa and 1.4% IACS, respectively. The excellent combinations of mechanical, electrical, and thermal-resistant properties made the developed alloys promising candidate materials for four standard grades of thermal-resistant aluminium conductors, while taking advantage of an affordable material cost and using conventional thermomechanical processes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785423016976Thermal-resistant Al conductor alloysSc microalloyingMechanical propertiesElectrical conductivityThermal-resistant properties |
| spellingShingle | Quan Shao Emad M. Elgallad Alexandre Maltais X.-Grant Chen Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing Journal of Materials Research and Technology Thermal-resistant Al conductor alloys Sc microalloying Mechanical properties Electrical conductivity Thermal-resistant properties |
| title | Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing |
| title_full | Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing |
| title_fullStr | Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing |
| title_short | Development of thermal-resistant Al–Zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with Sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing |
| title_sort | development of thermal resistant al zr based conductor alloys via microalloying with sc and manipulating thermomechanical processing |
| topic | Thermal-resistant Al conductor alloys Sc microalloying Mechanical properties Electrical conductivity Thermal-resistant properties |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785423016976 |
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