Achieving superior strength and conductivity for Al-Zr-Sc wires by coupling design of deformation and ageing

Figures & data

Figure 1. STEM results of Al-0.2Zr-0.06Sc alloys produced by different processes: (a₁–a₃) Bright-field micrographs; (b₁–d₁) Al-Fe-Si impurity phase and EDS mapping of Fe and Si elements; (b₂ and b₃) Dark-field micrographs and their corresponding particle size distribution in (c₂ and c₃); (d₂, d₃) High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) micrographs and their corresponding FFT images; (a₄–d₄) High-angle annular dark field (HAADF) micrograph of Al₃(Zr,Sc) precipitates and EDS mapping. Among them, (a₂–d₂) rods are aged at 250°C/24 h + 395°C/168 h.

Figure 2. The orientation distribution maps of Al-0.2Zr-0.06Sc alloys: (a₁–c₁) as-CCDRed sample; (a₂–c₂) as-aged sample at 250°C/24 h + 395°C/168 h; (a₃–c₃) as-drawn sample; (a₁–a₃) radial direction; (b₁–b₃) grain size distributions; (c₁–c₃) axial direction. (d) Schematic diagram of sample observation; (e) Statistical results corresponding to the grain lengths and widths. DD: Deformation direction; RD: Rolling direction.

Figure 3. UTS and EC of Al-0.2Zr-0.06Sc alloy wires were compared with other heat-resistant Al conductors produced by different processes. (CD: Cold drawing; A: Ageing treatment; HR: Hot rolled; CR: Cold rolled; AN: Annealing treatment; and HPT: High pressure torsion) [9,14–22].

Figure 4. The strengthening contribution provided by different mechanisms was calculated using Equations (4)–(11) in (a); and difference between calculated and experimental results in (b).

Figure 5. The influence of different mechanisms on the electrical resistivity was calculated using Equations (12)–(14) in (a); The change of aged/168h-wire on the EC during processing paths in (b).

Liu L, Jiang JT, Zhang B, et al. Enhancement of strength and electrical conductivity for a dilute Al-Sc-Zr alloy via heat treatments and cold drawing. J Mater Sci Technol 2019;35:962–971. doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2018.12.023

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