Abstract:Al-0.2Zr-(0-0.2)Hf alloys were prepared by casting and thermomechanical processing in this study. Optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope were employed to investigate the effects of the combined addition of Zr and Hf on the microstructure, aging behavior, electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties of the Al-Zr-Hf alloys. The results show that primary Al3(Zr,Hf) precipitates are formed during solidification of Al-0.2Zr-0.2Hf alloy. These phases act as heterogeneous nucleation sites and significantly refine the as-cast grains, reducing the average grain size by 60 μm compared with the Al-0.2Zr alloy. After peak aging at 400 ℃/100 h, a large number of finely dispersed Al3(Zr,Hf) phases (with an average diameter of 28 nm) precipitate in the Al-0.2Zr-0.2Hf alloy. These precipitates possess an L12 structure and are fully coherent with the α-Al matrix. They enhance the strength of the alloy via precipitation strengthening, while simultaneously reducing electron scattering by depleting Zr and Hf solute atoms from the Al matrix. After aging at 400 ℃/300 h, the alloy achieves an optimal comprehensive performance, with a tensile strength of 103 MPa, an elongation of 21%, and an electrical conductivity of 33.3 MS/m.
孙珂, 韦启荣, 阳书超, 王斌. Hf微合金化对Al-0.2Zr合金微观组织与力学性能的影响[J]. 粉末冶金材料科学与工程, 2026, 31(4): 364-376.
SUN Ke, WEI Qirong, YANG Shuchao, WANG Bin. Effects of Hf microalloying on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-0.2Zr alloys[J]. Materials Science and Engineering of Powder Metallurgy, 2026, 31(4): 364-376.
[1] 陈保安, 祝志祥, 王瑞红, 等. Zr含量对Al-Zr合金时效析出和性能的影响[J]. 金属热处理, 2021, 46(9): 47-53. CHEN Baoan, ZHU Zhixiang, WANG Ruihong, et al.Effect of Zr content on aging precipitation and properties of Al-Zr alloy[J]. Heat Treatment of Metals, 2021, 46(9): 47-53. [2] LIU L, JIANG J T, CUI X Y, et al.Correlation between precipitates evolution and mechanical properties of Al-Sc-Zr alloy with Er additions[J]. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2022, 99: 61-72. [3] FORBORD B, LEFEBVRE W, DANOIX F, et al.Three dimensional atom probe investigation on the formation of Al3(Sc,Zr)-dispersoids in aluminium alloys[J]. Scripta Materialia, 2004, 51(4): 333-337. [4] 赵辉, 赵菲, 杨长龙, 等. 时效处理对Al-Zr-Sc(-Er)合金组织和性能的影响[J]. 材料工程, 2020, 48(5): 112-119. ZHAO Hui, ZHAO Fei, YANG Changlong, et al.Effect of aging treatment on microstructure and properties of Al-Zr-Sc(-Er) alloys[J]. Journal of Materials Engineering, 2020, 48(5): 112-119. [5] ZHANG C M, YIN D F, JIANG Y, et al.Precipitation of L12-phase nano-particles in dilute Al-Er-Zr alloys from the first-principles[J]. Computational Materials Science, 2019, 162: 171-177. [6] 陈卓, 方华婵, 祝昌军, 等. L12型Al3(Yb,Zr)相结构的第一性原理计算和实验研究[J]. 粉末冶金材料科学与工程, 2020, 25(1): 1-10. CHEN Zhuo, FANG Huachan, ZHU Changjun, et al.First-principles calculations and experimental results of L12-structured Al3(Yb,Zr) precipitate[J]. Materials Science and Engineering of Powder Metallurgy, 2020, 25(1): 1-10. [7] ZHANG Y Z, GAO H Y, KUAI Y, et al.Effects of Y additions on the precipitation and recrystallization of Al-Zr alloys[J]. Materials Characterization, 2013, 86: 1-8. [8] LI H Y, LI D W, ZHU Z X.Grain refinement mechanism of as-cast aluminum by hafnium[J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2016, 26(12): 3059-3069. [9] ZHUO Z M, MAO H K, FU Y Z.First-principles study on Al/Al3Hf heterogeneous nucleation interface[J]. Science of Advanced Materials, 2021, 13(5): 787-793. [10] CHEN F K, DU Z T, LIANG H T, et al.Experimental investigation and thermodynamic optimization of the Al-Hf-Zr system[J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2026, 1055: 186461. [11] WU H, ZHANG Q, LI L, et al.Thermal stability of the precipitates in dilute Al-Er-Zr/Hf alloys at elevated temperature[J]. Metals, 2022, 12(8): 1242. [12] NOKHRIN A V, NAGICHEVA G S, CHUVIL'DEEV V N, et al. Effect of Er, Si, Hf and Nb additives on the thermal stability of microstructure, electrical resistivity and microhardness of fine-grained aluminum alloys of Al-0.25%Zr[J]. Materials, 2023, 16(5): 2114. [13] XU L, XIAO Y, VAN SANDWIJK A, et al.Separation of zirconium and hafnium: a review[C]// Energy Materials 2014, 2014: 451-457. [14] ZUIKO I, KAIBYSHEV R.Effect of plastic deformation on the ageing behaviour of an Al-Cu-Mg alloy with a high Cu/Mg ratio[J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2018, 737: 401-412. [15] CHEN Z W, YAN K.Grain refinement of commercially pure aluminum with addition of Ti and Zr elements based on crystallography orientation[J]. Scientific Reports, 2020, 10: 16591. [16] NOKHRIN A, SHADRINA I, CHUVIL'DEEV V, et al. Investigation of thermal stability of microstructure and mechanical properties of bimetallic fine-grained wires from Al-0.25%Zr-(Sc,Hf) alloys[J]. Materials, 2021, 15(1): 185. [17] RYUM N.Precipitation in an Al-1.78 wt% Hf alloy after rapid solidification[J]. Journal of Materials Science, 1975, 10(12): 2075-2081. [18] MUKHERJEE R, ABINANDANAN T A, GURURAJAN M P.Phase field study of precipitate growth: effect of misfit strain and interface curvature[J]. Acta Materialia, 2009, 57(13): 3947-3954. [19] ZHANG J Y, WANG H X, YI D Q, et al.Comparative study of Sc and Er addition on microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of Al-0.2Zr-based alloy cables[J]. Materials Characterization, 2018, 145: 126-134. [20] CHEN J M, YANG X Q, CAO W X, et al.Notably improving impact toughness in the HAZ of a GPa-level armor-grade thick-plate titanium alloy GMAW joint via post-weld heat treatment[J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2026, 959: 150028. [21] TAN P, QIN J, QUAN X, et al.Co-strengthening of the multi-phase precipitation in high-strength and toughness cast Al-Cu-Zn-Mg alloy via changing Zn/Mg ratios[J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2023, 873: 145024. [22] GUAN R G, SHEN Y F, ZHAO Z Y, et al.A high-strength, ductile Al-0.35Sc-0.2Zr alloy with good electrical conductivity strengthened by coherent nanosized- precipitates[J]. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2017, 33(3): 215-223. [23] MICHI R A, DE LUCA A, SEIDMAN D N, et al.Effects of Si and Fe micro-additions on the aging response of a dilute Al-0.08Zr-0.08Hf-0.045Er at.% alloy[J]. Materials Characterization, 2019, 147: 72-83. [24] SHAO Q, ELGALLAD E M, MALTAIS A, et al.Thermal stability of Al-Zr-Sc conductor alloys during long-term elevated-temperature exposures[J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2025, 35: 164-175. [25] BAI J P, GAO M Q, WANG C F, et al.Role of Er element and two-stage heat treatment in a rheo-extruded Al-Sc-Zr alloy: balance strength and electrical conductivity[J]. Materials & Design, 2025, 260: 115096. [26] HU X L, WANG C X, MA G R, et al.Effect of Er on microstructure, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of an Al-Zr alloy[J]. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 2025, 34(7): 6026-6034. [27] BELOV N, AKOPYAN T, KOROTKOVA N, et al.Structure and properties of Ca and Zr containing heat resistant wire aluminum alloy manufactured by electromagnetic casting[J]. Metals, 2021, 11(2): 236. [28] BELOV N, AKOPYAN T, KOROTKOVA N, et al.Structure and properties of Al-0.6%Zr-0.4%Fe-0.4%Si (wt.%) wire alloy manufactured by electromagnetic casting[J]. The Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 2020, 72(4): 1561-1570. [29] QIN L M, TANG P, MENG S X.Effect of Ni addition on the microstructure, conductivities and mechanical properties of as-cast Al-Fe alloys[J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2024, 986: 174160. [30] ZHANG Y F, LUO X L, ZHU L F, et al.Design of non- heat-treatable Al-Fe-Ni alloys with high electrical conductivity and high strength via CALPHAD approach[J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2024, 1009: 176920. [31] MEDVEDEV A, ZHUKOVA O, ENIKEEV N, et al.The effect of casting technique and severe straining on the microstructure, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties and thermal stability of the Al-1.7 wt.% Fe alloy[J]. Materials, 2023, 16(8): 3067. [32] MEDVEDEV A E, ZHUKOVA O O, KAZYKHANOV V U, et al.Influence of Cu alloying on the microstructure and properties of the Al-Fe alloy, produced by electromagnetic casting and subjected to equal-channel angular pressing[J]. Physics of Metals and Metallography, 2024, 125(13): 1629-1637.