Achieving superior high-temperature mechanical properties in Al-Cu-Li-Sc-Zr alloy with nano-scale microstructure via laser additive manufacturing

Abstract

Traditional aluminum alloys are unsuitable for structural use above 200 ℃ due to precipitate coarsening or dissolution. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing technique enables fabricating novel aluminum alloys with enhanced high-temperature properties. This study focuses on investigating the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of a novel LPBF-fabricated Al-Cu-Li-Sc-Zr alloy at elevated temperatures. The microstructure is characterized by nano-scale grains and precipitates. Excellent grain structure and precipitate stability result in superior high-temperature mechanical properties. This study advances additively manufactured aluminum alloy design for potential high-temperature applications, offering valuable insights into their behavior in extreme environments.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

IMPACT STATEMENT

This study elucidates superior high-temperature mechanical properties and nano-scale microstructural stability of LPBF-fabricated Al-Cu-Li-Sc-Zr alloy, offering valuable insights into grain boundary pinning effects and constrained diffusion rates for alloy design.

KEYWORDS:

• Additive manufacturing
• aluminum alloys
• laser powder bed fusion
• nano-scale microstructure
• high-temperature mechanical properties

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Analytical and Testing Center of HUST for the EBSD and TEM analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was sponsored by the the Foundation (Grant No. 6230113009), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51805184 and No. 52305358), and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant No. 2022A1515010304).