Effect of Pulsed Magnetic Field on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 7050 Al Alloy After Two-Stage Aging

• Published in: JOM (1989) 2024-02, Vol.76 (2), p.776-784
• Main Authors: Zhou, Jinxin, Pan, Hao, Huang, Ruiyin, Tang, Yuanlu, Ma, Yonglin, Liu, Yongzhen, Gong, Meina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging (metallurgy); Aluminum base alloys; Ambient temperature; Characterization of Interactions between Materials and External Fields; Chemistry/Food Science; Diamond pyramid hardness tests; Earth Sciences; Elongation; Energy consumption; Engineering; Environment; Grain boundaries; Heat treating; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Morphology; Particle size; Physics; Solid solutions; Solution heat treatment; Tensile strength; Titanium alloys; Yield strength; Yield stress
• ISSN: 1047-4838; 1543-1851
• DOI: 10.1007/s11837-023-06328-x

The effect of pulsed magnetic fields in a two-stage aging (PMFTSA) process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a 7050 Al alloy was investigated using x-ray diffraction, micro-Vickers hardness testing, transmission electron microscopy, and ambient-temperature electronic universal testing machine tests. Compared with the conventional two-stage aging (CTSA) heat treatment, the application of PMFTSA accelerates the diffusion of atoms and the aging process and reduces the two-stage aging time. After conventional solid solution treatment at 466°C for 50 min, the tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and hardness during two-stage aging at 102°C + 1 h/136°C + 1 h with a pulsed magnetic field were 655.06 MPa, 562.33 MPa, 14.83%, and 184.3 HV compared with the CTSA with a 23.10% increase in tensile strength, 26.56% increase in yield strength, 9.85% increase in elongation, 14.25% increase in hardness, 60% decrease in aging holding time, and 18.10% decrease in secondary aging temperature.