Thermo-mechanical treatment regulation of microstructure and comprehensive performance in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy

The comprehensive performance of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy can be significantly improved by a proposed novel thermo-mechanical treatment (NTMT). The influence of the NTMT on the properties and microstructure was investigated by tensile test, corrosion resistance test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results show that Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy treated by the NTMT can obtain an excellent combination of strength and ductility. The highest yield strength and ultimate tensile strength reached 643 MPa and 664 MPa respectively, and the elongation was 9.7%. Meanwhile, electrochemical corrosion resistance and intergranular corrosion resistance in the aluminum alloy can be improved after the NTMT. The mechanism of the excellent combination of strength and ductility is thought to be the synergistic effect of dislocations substructures, texture configuration, and nanoprecipitates. The improvement of intergranular corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy is caused by changes in the micro-morphology of grain boundary precipitates after the NTMT, which can block anodic dissolution channels along grain boundaries to reduce the rate of anodic dissolution and avoid hydrogen embrittlement.