Characterization of microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Mn/Zr) alloy with high Cu:Mg

This study examines the effects of the addition of Mn or Zr on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, tensile test, and tear test. The results showed that the alloy with Zr exhibited the highest strength and the lowest fracture toughness, which may be attributed to the segregation of the secondary phases containing the Zr element on the recrystallization grain boundaries. The alloy with Mn exhibited strength that is roughly equal to the Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy and the highest fracture toughness, which may be due to the formation of secondary phases containing Mn and Fe elements. Mn or Zr addition also has no remarkable influence on the characteristics of the precipitates. The 52 phase and a small quantity of theta' phases dominated the microstructure of the three alloys after aging. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.