Towards high mechanical performance Al–Cu–Mg–Fe–Ni alloy: influence of composition, solution treatment and aged process on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties

Al–Cu–Mg–Fe–Ni alloys are widely used in high temperature structural materials such as automobile engine cylinders and pistons, owning to their good high temperature mechanical properties. In this work, the effect of Fe and Ni content, solution treated, and aged process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Mg–Fe–Ni alloys were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hardness and tensile tests. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high–resolution TEM were used to determine the existence of S phase and Al9FeNi precipitates. The solution treatment followed by aged process is found to be of significant benefit in improving the tensile properties both at room– and elevated temperature.