Effect of Homogenizing Treatment on Microstructure and Property of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr Aluminum Alloy
A series of Al-6.3Zn-2.3Mg-2.3Cu-0.15Zr alloys with different reduce of Zn, Mg, Cu and Zr were prepared by ingot-metallurgy processing. Effects of homogenization on the microstructure and properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr aluminium alloy were respectively studied by means of metallographic microscopy, electrical conductivity test, differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction phase analysis. The results indicated that the overheating temperature of these alloys is between 473°C and 477°C, and there was little difference to the overheating temperature of 7050 alloy. During homogenization process, using three kinds of developed heat treatment of homogenization of 7050 alloy, with the rising of homogenization temperature and the complication of the homogenization heat treatment, the electrical conductivity decreased and hardness gradually increased. The three-step homogenization has a better effect than single homogenization, as it can completely eliminate the endothermic peak of non-equilibrium phases. Many MgZn2 phases are present in the ingot with three-step homogenization and slow cooling.