Abstract
The intermetallic phase selection during homogenization in a AA6082 alloy has been investigated. A short homogenization treatment at 580 {\degr}C for 4 h and a subsequent slow cooling with a rate of about 8 {\degr}C/min, rather than a conventional quick quenching into water, results in the formation of the rounded discrete Al15(FeMnCr)3Si2 phase, which greatly suppressed the formation of the plate-shaped β-Al5FeSi phase. Most of the Al15(FeMnCr)3Si2 particles were observed to be very fine (about 200 nm) and homogeneously distributed in the α-Al matrix. Fine Mg2Si particles were also observed to be located in the vicinity of Al15(FeMnCr)3Si2 particles. Additionally, the β series precipitates (most likely β″-Mg2Si), large-scale U2-AlMgSi and B′ (type C) phases were also observed within the α-Al matrix. This investigation demonstrates that the size and distribution of the desired intermetallic phases can be influenced by suitable homogenization treatments.
Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the access to the TEM facility at the Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.