Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys

Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr aluminum alloys have shown promise as materials for drill pipes; however, their application temperature is limited to below 120°C. This study investigates the influence of incorporating the rare earth element Nd on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys....

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hao Jianpeng, Yan Liangming, Dai Yuxin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2023-08-01
Series:Reviews on Advanced Materials Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/rams-2023-0345
_version_ 1797752445116350464
author Hao Jianpeng
Yan Liangming
Dai Yuxin
author_facet Hao Jianpeng
Yan Liangming
Dai Yuxin
author_sort Hao Jianpeng
collection DOAJ
description Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr aluminum alloys have shown promise as materials for drill pipes; however, their application temperature is limited to below 120°C. This study investigates the influence of incorporating the rare earth element Nd on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys. The microstructural evolution during casting, homogenization, hot deformation, and heat treatment processes is characterized using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The composition of the rare earth phase is determined through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, first-principles calculations are employed to determine the formation enthalpy, cohesive energy, shear modulus, bulk modulus, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of bulk Al8Cu4Nd. The effect of Nd addition on the mechanical properties of the alloy is investigated through hardness and tensile testing. The results indicate that the addition of Nd significantly refines the grain and dendrite sizes of the alloy and effectively suppresses recrystallization behavior during hot extrusion and solution treatment. TEM observations reveal the presence of micrometer-sized blocky Al8Cu4Nd phases and nanometer-sized Al3Nd phases. The Al3Nd phases are located near dislocations, hindering dislocation movement and thus enhancing the alloy’s mechanical properties. First-principles calculations demonstrate that the bulk Al8Cu4Nd phase exhibits superior structural stability, deformation resistance, and brittle characteristics, which negatively impact the ductility of the alloy. The alloy with Nd addition can maintain a high hardness value for an extended period at high temperature, and the tensile strength of the alloy with 0.26 wt% Nd addition reaches 396.2 MPa at 120°C. These results indicate that the rare earth element Nd can improve the high-temperature mechanical properties of the alloy.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T17:04:32Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f4081399ba2a439fa9136e4c0d99eb7c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1605-8127
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T17:04:32Z
publishDate 2023-08-01
publisher De Gruyter
record_format Article
series Reviews on Advanced Materials Science
spelling doaj.art-f4081399ba2a439fa9136e4c0d99eb7c2023-08-07T06:57:13ZengDe GruyterReviews on Advanced Materials Science1605-81272023-08-01621pp. 1190119710.1515/rams-2023-0345Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloysHao Jianpeng0Yan Liangming1Dai Yuxin2College of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010051, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010051, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010051, ChinaAl–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr aluminum alloys have shown promise as materials for drill pipes; however, their application temperature is limited to below 120°C. This study investigates the influence of incorporating the rare earth element Nd on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys. The microstructural evolution during casting, homogenization, hot deformation, and heat treatment processes is characterized using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The composition of the rare earth phase is determined through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, first-principles calculations are employed to determine the formation enthalpy, cohesive energy, shear modulus, bulk modulus, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of bulk Al8Cu4Nd. The effect of Nd addition on the mechanical properties of the alloy is investigated through hardness and tensile testing. The results indicate that the addition of Nd significantly refines the grain and dendrite sizes of the alloy and effectively suppresses recrystallization behavior during hot extrusion and solution treatment. TEM observations reveal the presence of micrometer-sized blocky Al8Cu4Nd phases and nanometer-sized Al3Nd phases. The Al3Nd phases are located near dislocations, hindering dislocation movement and thus enhancing the alloy’s mechanical properties. First-principles calculations demonstrate that the bulk Al8Cu4Nd phase exhibits superior structural stability, deformation resistance, and brittle characteristics, which negatively impact the ductility of the alloy. The alloy with Nd addition can maintain a high hardness value for an extended period at high temperature, and the tensile strength of the alloy with 0.26 wt% Nd addition reaches 396.2 MPa at 120°C. These results indicate that the rare earth element Nd can improve the high-temperature mechanical properties of the alloy.https://doi.org/10.1515/rams-2023-0345al–zn–mg–cu–zr aluminum alloyrare earth phasefirst-principlesrecrystallizationmechanical property
spellingShingle Hao Jianpeng
Yan Liangming
Dai Yuxin
Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys
Reviews on Advanced Materials Science
al–zn–mg–cu–zr aluminum alloy
rare earth phase
first-principles
recrystallization
mechanical property
title Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys
title_full Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys
title_fullStr Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys
title_full_unstemmed Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys
title_short Effect of rare earth Nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys
title_sort effect of rare earth nd on the microstructural transformation and mechanical properties of 7xxx series aluminum alloys
topic al–zn–mg–cu–zr aluminum alloy
rare earth phase
first-principles
recrystallization
mechanical property
url https://doi.org/10.1515/rams-2023-0345
work_keys_str_mv AT haojianpeng effectofrareearthndonthemicrostructuraltransformationandmechanicalpropertiesof7xxxseriesaluminumalloys
AT yanliangming effectofrareearthndonthemicrostructuraltransformationandmechanicalpropertiesof7xxxseriesaluminumalloys
AT daiyuxin effectofrareearthndonthemicrostructuraltransformationandmechanicalpropertiesof7xxxseriesaluminumalloys