The effects of retrogression and re-aging(RRA) heat treatment on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Al-7.95Zn-1.84Mg-0.65Cu aluminum alloy were investigated by hardness and tensile tests, as well as intergranular corrosion and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the Al-7.95Zn-1.84Mg-0.65Cu alloy can obtain better hardness than the single-stage peak aging (T6) process after RRA process (120℃/24 h+200℃/10 min+120℃/24 h). At the same time, the tensile strength is 528.37 MPa, with 13.73% elongation and 29.4% increase in strong plastic product. The electrical conductivity is 40.47% IACS, the intergranular corrosion depth is only 59.43 μm, and the exfoliation corrosion grade is EA. The test results of transmission electron microscopy showed that the η' phase with larger size, greater strengthening effect and more obvious contrast is found in the alloy crystal after RRA treatment, and grain boundary precipitates (GBPs) become more discrete and coarser and precipitation-free precipitated zone (PFZ) becomes wider.
Enhanced mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of an Al-Zn-Mg aluminum alloy through variable-rate non-isothermal aging
