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Effects of Germanium, Copper, and Silver Substitutions on Hardness and Microstructure in Lean Al-Mg-Si Alloys

Abstract

It is shown that strength loss in a 6060 Al-Mg-Si alloy caused by reduction in solute can be compensated by adding back smaller quantities of Ag, Ge, and Cu. Nine alloys were investigated. Ge was found to be the most effective addition, strongly refining the precipitation. The hardness is discussed in terms of statistics of the precipitates near a T6 condition, as acquired by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Precipitates in some conditions were also investigated by high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM. The added elements have strong influence on the main hardening precipitate, β″, changing its structure and promoting disorder.
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Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Eva Anne Mørtsell
  • Calin Daniel Marioara
  • Sigmund Jarle Andersen
  • Jostein Røyset
  • Oddvin Reiso
  • Randi Holmestad

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Industry / Materials and Nanotechnology
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • Norsk Hydro ASA

Year

2015

Published in

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A

ISSN

1073-5623

Volume

46

Issue

9

Page(s)

4369 - 4379

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository