Precipitation hardening and recrystallization behavior of Al-Mg-Er-Zr alloys

The precipitation hardening and recrystallization behavior of Al-Mg-Er-Zr alloys have been investigated. The results show that Mg solute and its concentration has negligible influence on the precipitation of Al-3(ErZr). The distribution of the precipitates is inhomogeneous due to the inhomogeneous distribution of the solute species formed during solidification. The recrystallization temperatures of the alloys with addition of Er and Zr are higher than that of the alloys free of Er and Zr, especially the recrystallization end temperature of the Al-Mg-Er-Zr alloy which is at least 200 degrees C higher than that of the Al-5Mg alloy due to the retardation of the precipitates. Recrystallization of Al-Mg-Er-Zr alloys initiates at the precipitation free zone. The recrystallization starting temperatures of the Al-Mg-Er-Zr alloys increase with the decrease of the Mg concentration due to high deformation energy of the Al-Mg-Er-Zr alloy with high Mg concentration, and the recrystallization end temperatures are close among Al-Mg-Er-Zr alloys with different Mg concentration. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.