j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2

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Original Article

Precipitation thermodynamics and kinetics of the

second phase of AleZneMgeCueSceZreTi
aluminum alloy

Yunlong Ma a,b,*, Yuanchun Huang c, Xieyi Zhang c

a
Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
b
Beijing Institute of Astronautical Systems Engineering, Beijing, 100076, China
c
Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China

article info abstract

Article history: The precipitation thermodynamics and kinetics of the second-phase of the as-quenched Al
Received 29 September 2020 eZneMgeCueSceZreTi alloy was investigated by hardness measurements, electrical
Accepted 24 November 2020 conductivity, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron micro-
Available online 9 December 2020 scopy (TEM). The results show that: 1) Both the GP zone and h0 phases are strengthening
phases, and the strengthening effect of the h0 phase is dominant. The h phase decrease the
Keywords: hardness but increase the electrical electrical conductivity at high temperature. 2) The
AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti aluminum activation energy of GP zone, h0 phase and h phase are 118.80 kJ$ mol1, 105.74 kJ$ mol1
alloy and 273.78 kJ$ mol1 respectively. The precipitation formulas are simulated and the pre-
Precipitation of second-phase cise equations are obtained, which match with experimental values well.
Kinetics © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC
Activation energy BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Thermodynamics

type, quantity, size, volume fraction, distribution and

1. Introduction
AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti based alloys are used extensively
for structural materials as, e.g. in the aerospace industry,
owing to their excellent mechanical properties [1e4]. The
alloys which can be operated to aviation parts [5] have
lightweight, high-strength, high-toughness corrosion
resistance, anti-fatigue and good processing and forming
properties. The AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy which can be
processed into different aviation parts depends on the
solution treatment and the aging treatment [6e8]. The
characteristics of the inner/grain boundary precipitated
phase (GP zone, h0 phase, h phase) directly determine the
properties of the alloy [9e12]. For
AleZneMgeCueSceZreTi alloy, when the Zn content is
higher than that of Mg, the aging precipitation sequence is
supersaturated solid solution (SSS)/GP zone/h0 phase
(MgZn2)/h phase (MgZn2) [12,13]. After aging, the
precipitated phase in the alloy is mainly the GP zone of
the coherent relationship and the h0 phase of the semi-
coherent relationship with the matrix. The finer the
crystal grains and the higher the density distribution in

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mayunlong@csu.edu.cn (Y.L. Ma).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2020.11.075
2238-7854/© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
446 j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2
the crystal result in the higher the strength of the mate-
rial [14e18]. At the same time, the h phase precipitated at
the grain boundary with the matrix in a non-coherent
relationship, the larger size and spacing of the grain and
more discrete the distribution and wider the PFZ region
bring about the better anti-corrosivene [19e21]. Therefore,
understand the precipitation thermodynamics and the
structural transformation law of the aging precipitation
phase can be the most effectively way to regulate the
characters of the target alloy such as quantity and dis-
tribution of the intragranular/grain boundary precipitation
phase. And this can be a good tool to predict and optimize
the performance of the aging process of the
AleZneMgeCu alloy [22].
Hardness, electrical electrical conductivity, DSC (dif-
ferential scanning thermal analysis) and TEM (trans-
mission electron microscope) are the common methods to
characterize are generally used to characterize the ther-
modynamics of precipitation/dissolution of metastable
phases of 7xx series aluminum alloys [23e25]. DSC can
describe the precipitation and dissolution of the second
phase in the alloy structure quickly and qualitatively,
which can give us an accurate result and make the
experimental operation convenient and feasible, so it is
widely used to study the microstructure transformation
kinetics of aluminum alloy during precipitation. JENA and
GUPTA et al. [26] determined the kinetic parameters by
analyzing the DSC curve of AlCuMg alloy; Papazian and
DELASI calculated the activation energies of GP zone and
h0 phase of 7075 aluminum alloy by analyze the DSC curve
and deduced the kinetic formula. KSGHOSH studied the
DSC curves of solid solution, natural aging and artificial
aging 7150 alloys at different heating rates, and obtained
that the temperature corresponding to each peak
increased with the increase of heating rate, and calculated
the relationship between the precipitation volume fraction
f of each metastable phase and the temperature (T) and
time (t) and the precipitation/dissolution activation energy
by analyzing each the heat flow value corresponding to
the peak [27]. So conducted DSC tests on supersaturated
7050 aluminum alloy solid solution, and calculated the
precipitation kinetics of the second phase by JMAK equa-
tion and bimodal separation method, and plotted the TTT
curve, which has certain guidance for subsequent artificial
aging treatment.
Therefore, for the 445 (±5)◦C/3 h þ 470 (±5)◦C/2 h
solution-quenched AleZneMgeCu alloy, DSC curve of
AleZneMgeCu alloy was combined with the JMAK for-
mula model, and then calculated the precipitation volume
fraction, activation energy and heat of GP zone, h0 phase
and h phase and other thermodynamic parameters
[28e33], determining the relationship between the trans-
formation volume fraction (f) of each phase and the
temperature(T) and time(t). Finally, we established the
transformation thermodynamic equation of each phase,
and clarify the precipitation thermodynamics and phase
transformation law of each metastable phase according to
the above paramaters. It provides a reference for the
formulation and performance prediction of solid solution
quenched alloy single-stage aging process.
2. Computational methods
2.1. Precipitation thermodynamics theory of the second
phase
The essence of the DSC differential scanning thermal anal-
ysis is determined by the difference in heat flow between the
pure aluminum standard and the sample during the same
heating process. Based on the DSC curve of the sample and
combined with the J-M-A (Johnson-Mehl-Avrami) formula,
the phase transition activation energy of the precipitated
phase and its corresponding thermodynamic expression can
be derived.
Assuming that the heat flux of the standards and samples
in a very short time is respectively dq1 and dq2 .
dq2 dq1 M dQ
 ¼  (1)
dt dt B dt
B is the correction factor, M is the weight of the sample, and
dQ/dT is the heat flow rate. For the integral of Eq. (1), find the
peak area of each metastable phase
ZTf  

 dq2 dq1
A Tf ¼  dT (2)
dt dt
Ts
Ts : peak onset temperature，Tf : peak end temperarure.
BAðTÞ
QðTÞ ¼ DH ¼ (3)
M
In the formula, Q(T) equalsDH in magnitude. Therefore,
using pure aluminum as the standard sample, according to
the DSC curve of the alloy, the enthalpy of each phase was
calculated by using the special software provided by Setaram,
which is attached to the DSC experimental equipment, to
analyze the amount of precipitation or dissolution of each
phase during the aging process.
For the isothermal transformation, the transformation ki-
netics of the second phase is represented by the J-M-A
equation：
n
f ¼ 1  ekt (4)
f is the newly added volume fraction of the precipitated phase
about time, which is a constant, related to the diffusion co-
efficient of the solute atoms and the nucleation type, nucle-
ation rate and size of the precipitated phase; n is the
nucleation growth parameter of the precipitation phase, and it
is related to the type of dissolution of the solute atoms and the
growth of the precipitated phase (spherical, disc, needle, and
scorpion).
By correcting Eq. (4), the relationship among volume frac-
tion and time and temperature during non-isothermal tran-
sition is obtained by correcting Eq. (4).：
 j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2 447

corresponding temperature interval to find the value of Eq.

f ¼ 1  ek1 t
n
* =RT
f ¼ k0 eQ
In the formula, Q* is the activation energy for the transi-
tion, R is gas constant, which is 8.31 J/(molK), and k0 is a
constant. Then we can get formula (7) which is volume frac-
tion conversion rate (df =dt), next differentiate Eq. (5) and
combine formulas (6,7), Eq. (8) is obtained.
(5) (10), and the linear relationship between the ln [(df/dT) (dT/dt)
(1/F(f))] and is determined. Then constant k0 and activation
energy Q* can be calculated from formula respectively. Ac-
(6)
cording to formula (5) and formula (6), the relationship among
the volume fraction (f) of each phase transition of the alloy
and temperature and time is determined during temperature
rise.
2.2. Experimental materials and method

df
¼ k1 ðTÞFðf Þ (7) The materials used in the experiment were the
dt
AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy extruded profiles designed and
  n1 produced by our research group. The composition of the alloy
1 n
was shown in Table 2. After the sample was subjected to so-
Fðf Þ ¼ nð1  f Þ n (8)
1f
lution treatment at 445 (±5) ◦C/3 h þ 470 (±5) ◦C/2 h, rapid cold
According to the mechanism of the structural trans- water quenching and transfer time  3 s were executed, so
formation of the aging precipitation phase of the that the sample obtained a higher supersaturation. Then the
AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy and referring to Table 1, n ¼ 1 is samples were prepared into several wafers that their di-
selected because the shape of h0 phase and the h phase like a ameters were less than 5 mm and the mass were less than
needle or rod. 30 mg. Next choosen wafer was analyzed by NETZSCH STA
449C type thermal analyzer at a heating rate of 10  C/min and
Fðf Þ ¼ 1  f (9) then we got the DSC curve. At the same time, the other
According to formulas 6 and 7, formula 10 is obtained and sosoloid quenched sample was subjected to non-isothermal
we can get Eq. (11) by the logarithm of Eq. (10). Then we can get aging at the same heating rate (10  C/min) as the DSC in a
the k0 and Q*. circulating blast drying oven and isothermal aging is per-
formed at 100  C to 180  C. After those processes hardness and
df 1 Q*
electrical electrical conductivity were measureed. The hard-
¼ k0 e RT (10)
dt Fðf Þ ness of the sample was measured by a Huayin HV-5 Vickers
hardness tester with a loading force of 300 g and a loading
   
df dT 1 Q* time of 15 s. Each hardness datum of the samples was the
ln ¼ ln k0  (11)
dt dt Fðf Þ RT mean value of ten indentations. The electrical conductivity of
In the DSC experiment the heating rate is 10 K/min then we the sample was measured by a 7501 eddy-current electrical
can combine Eqs. (9) and (11) and get the function (12). conductivity meter. The higher electrical conductivity in-
dicates that the stronger corrosion resistance of the material.
2 3
yðTÞ dT 1 * The samples for TEM and HRTEM investigation were me-
ln4Z Z T Z 5 ¼ ln k0  Q
Tf
dt Tf
RT chanical ground to a thickness of 50 mm around and punched
yðTÞdðTÞ 1 yðTÞdðTÞ yðTÞdðTÞ into 3 mm diameter disks. Then the thickness of the samples
Ts Ts Ts
were ground to less than 10 mm. Finally, the samples were
(12)
electro-polished using a double jet of a mixed solution of 30%
Ts: The onset temperature of peak T: A certain moment Tf: nitric acid and 70% methanol at 18 V and 25  C. These
The endset temperature of the peak y(T): Function of DSC samples were observed with TitanG2 transmission electron
curve. microscope operated at an acceleration voltage of 300 kV.
Based on the DSC curve of the alloy, the precipitation/dis-
solving peak curves of each phase are fitted by Eq. y(T)¼
aþbT þ cT2þdT3þeT4, and several points are selected in the 3. Results and discussion

3.1. DSC curve after solution treatment, and TEM

Table 1 e n of precipitates under nucleation-growth
images of AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy after aging at
mechanism by long-range diffusion controlled [34].
different temperatures
Conditions n
Starting from a small size, the nucleation rate increases ＞8/3 As shown in Fig. 1, the DSC curve of the as-quenched
Starting from a small size, the nucleation rate is 8/3 AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy shows that the peak 1 is
unchanged
exothermic peak corresponding to the formation of the GP
Starting from a small size, the nucleation rate is reduced 8/5e8/3
Starting from a small size, the nucleation rate is zero 8/5
Growing from big particles 1e8/5 Table 2 e The composition of AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti
Growing like needle or rod 1 alloy（wt.%）.
Growing like spherical or cylinder 1
Zn Mg Cu Zr Sc Ti Al
Growing like thick disk 1/2
Precipitation on the dislocation line 3/5 8.6 2.2 1.7 0.15 0.2 &0.05 Bal.
448 j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2

zone. And the temperature range of the GP zone is from

Fig. 1 e DSC curve after the solution treatment with the
increasing temperature of 10  C/min.
65.14  C to 86.83  C; the peak 2 is endothermic peak which has
a wider temperature range that is from 86.83  C ~143.34  C,
which means the rate of dissolution of the GP zone is faster
than formation of the h0 phase. Exothermic peak 3 corre-
sponds to the formation of h0 phase, mainly GP area as h0 core
grows and precipitates directly in the matrix, the temperature
range is from 143.34  C to 188.35  C. Endothermic peak 4 cor-
responds the dissolution of h0 phase, the temperature range is
188.35  C ~205.63  C. The peak 5 is exothermic peak corre-
sponding to the formation of h phase, mainly transformed
from the h 0 phase gradually, and the temperature range is
from 205.63  C ~228.13  C. When the material is continued to
heat up to 240  C, the h phase is coarsened, forming
exothermic peak 6. The dissolution peak of the GP zone is the
largest, indicating that there are more GP zones existing in the
solid-solution quenched structure. Then we selected three
representive temperatures to observe and analyze their
precipitations.
Fig. 2(a) is the selected diffraction patterns inside grains of
the alloy which aged at 80 (±2) ◦C for 5 h. As shown in Fig. 2(b),

Fig. 2 e SEAD (Selected area electron diffraction pattern), HRTEM (High resolution transmission electron microscope) and FFT
(Fast fourier transformation) filtered images of different phase at different aging temperature for 5 h: (a) SEAD of <001>Al
grain; (b) HRTEM and FFT filter images of <001>Al of alloy at 80 (±2)◦C; (c) HRTEM and FFT filter images of alloy at 160 (±2)◦C;
(d) HRTEM images of alloy at 240 (±2)◦C.
 j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2
Fig. 3 e Hardness and electrical conductivity curve.
the precipitated phase like a circular with a diameter of about
3 nm. By observing the HRTEM image and FFT filtered image of
Fig. 2(b) shows that the GP zone is in a coherent relationship
with the alloy matrix, which can effectively improve the
strength of the alloy.
As shown in Fig. 2(c), after heat treatment of the alloy at a
temperature of 160 (±2) ◦C for 5 h, the GP zone partially dis-
solves and forms a h0 phase, which can be clearly seen by
observing the HRTEM image. The resulting h0 phase exhibits a
rod shape, and the HRTEM image indicates that the h0 phase is
semi-coherent with the alloy, which can effectively demon-
strate that the h0 phase is also the enhanced precipitated
phase of the alloy.
After treatment at 240 (±2) ◦C for 5 h, it can be seen from
Fig. 2 (d) that h0 decreases significantly compared to Fig. 2(c),
and forms a h phase. By observing the HRTEM image, the h
phase likes a thick disc. There is a big difference between the
shape and the matrix. By analyzing Fig. 2(b, c, d), it is
Fig. 4 e Relationship between ln[(df/dT) (dT/dt) (1/F(f))] and
1/T for each phase corresponding to the DSC curve.
449
understood that the sequence of precipitation phase with
increasing temperature is (SSS) / GP / h 0 (MgZn2) / h
(MgZn2).
3.2. Hardness and condutivity curves of
AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy after solution treatment
The solid-solution quenched sample was heated at the same
heating rate (10  C/min) as the DSC, and the hardness and
electrical electrical conductivity were tested, and the hard-
ness and electrical conductivity curves corresponding to the
DSC curve were plotted, as shown in Fig. 3. When the aging
temperature increases, the hardness of the alloy increases
gradually, which indicates that h0 precipitated with the
dissolution of GP zone, and because the better strengthing
effect of h0 the hardness continue to increase. And the hard-
ness is the highest at around 165  C which corresponds to the
precipitation peak of h0 phase. After that, the h phase and its
coarsening phenomenon gradually appear in the microstruc-
ture, and the hardness of material begins to decrease. The
electrical conductivity decreases at the initial stage of pre-
cipitation of the GP zone, then gradually ascend with the in-
crease of temperature, and when the h phase appears, the
electrical conductivity increases faster. This is because at the
initial stage of precipitation in the GP zone, the degree of su-
persaturation of the solution-quenched matrix is high and not
reduced significantly, and the grain formed in GP zone has
high density and small size. All the factors above generate a
strong stress field, strongly hinder the movement of electrons,
and decrease the electrical conductivity and make the hard-
ness increases. As the temperature rises continuously, the
number of atomic groups in the GP zone is basically un-
changed, but the h0 phase grows, the scattering effect of
electrons is weakened and increase the hardness and elec-
trical electrical conductivity. When the temperature rises to
about 165  C, the h0 phase is most and the material is hardest.
If the temperature increases continuously, h0 phase dissolve
and h phase appears. At the peak 4 which means that the h0
phase in the coherent relationship with the matrix converts
into the h phase that is semi-coherent relationship with the
matrix. On this situation the atomic arrangement more
orderly, the lattice distortion is reduced, but as the tempera-
ture increases the h phase coarsened, which leads to lower
hardness and higher electrical electrical conductivity.
Therefore, it is concluded that the GP zone and the h0 phase
are both strengthening phases through analyzing the DSC
curve of as-quenched alloy and corresponding hardness and
electrical conductivity curve, and the h0 phase has greater
effects on strengthening; the precipitation and coarsening of
Table 3 e Dynamic parameters of phase transformation
about GP, h′ and h phases.
Phase TP/ C Q*(kJ$mol1) k0/s1 H*(J/
(Zone) g)
GP 78.69 ± 1 118.80 4.1014  1020 2.1
h0 164.14 ± 1 105.74 8.5324  1012 3.2
Н 215.36 ± 1 273.78 6.8608  1031 1.5
TP: peak temperature Q*: activation energy.
450 j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2

Fig. 5 e (a) Phase Transformation TTT Curves and (b、c) age hardening characteristics of AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy.

the h phase at high temperature reduces the hardness and phase, because every phase which appeared has influences on
improves the conductance. Therefore, the high toughness and the properties dominantly. Then combine the parameters and
corrosion resistance of the AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy is the function to fit the DSC curve, and we get the by precipi-
obtained by obtaining as many h0 phases and an appropriate tation or dissolution of each metastable phase during DSC
amount of h phase during the aging treatment. heating, the precipitation of each metastable phase is char-
acterized by calculating the thermodynamic parameters such
3.3. TTT curves, aging equation and activation energy as precipitation or dissolution activation energy and enthalpy
of each metastable phase. Then we simulated the every
It is importan to analyze the DSC curve and find suitable matestable phase by the function y(T)¼aþbT þ cT2þdT3þeT4
method to simulate and calculate the paramaters of every and get the every relative modulus of the function showed
below（11, 12 and 13）
GP phase （65.14  C~86.83  C）：
Table 4 e The time of peak hardness and the calculation
results of TTT curve about AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy yGP ðTÞ ¼ 268:0165  14:9907T þ 0:3096T2  0:0028T3 þ 9:3190
at different aging temperatures.  106 T4

T/ C Experimental Computational (13)
value value
0  
h phase （143.34 C~188.35 C）：
Hp/HV tp/h th’/h hv/%
100 e e 215.00 0.034 yh0 ðTÞ ¼ 53:8863  1:3405T þ 0:0125T2  5:0680  106 T3
110 206.30 90.00 89.30 0.101
þ 7:5041  108 T4 (14)
120 208.70 23.76 23.62 0.157
 
130 203.20 18.00 17.86 0.681 h phase （205.63 C~228.13 C）：
140 201.20 8.00 8.00 1.585
150 195.80 4.02 3.93 3.677 yh ðTÞ ¼ 7815:0756  144:8854T þ 1:0058T2  0:0031T3 þ 3:5733
160 191.80 2.74 2.80 9.414
 106 T4
170 187.70 1.92 1.84 26.330
180 173.50 0.97 0.83 44.450 (15)
Hp: maximum value of hardness tp: time of Hp th’: time of 95% Select several points on the precipitation peak temperature
precipitation of h0 hv: volume of precipitation of h range of GP zone, h0 phase and h phase, and substitute them
 j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2
into the left side of Eqs. (13，14,15) to find the value of y(T)¼
aþbT þ cT2þdT3þeT4 and 1/T of each precipitation phase, and
then make a linear relationship diagram (Fig. 4).
The precipitation activation energy of each phase is ob-
tained from the linear intercept and the slope (see Table 3).
Then the activation energies of GP, h0 and h phases can be
obtained. They are 118.80 kJ$ mol1, 105.74 kJ$ mol1 and
273.78 kJ$ mol1 respectively. The obtained activation en-
ergies are coincident with the previous report [35], and the
little deviation might origined from the different solution
treatment. The dissolution activation energy of GP and h0
phases is calculated in the same way. They are 64.34 kJ$ mol1
and 327.01 kJ$ mol1 respectively. It is concluded that the
precipitation activation energy of the GP zone is greater than
the dissolution activation energy, that is, the energy required
for the growth of the MgeZn phase is more soluble than that
of the GP zone. According to the precipitation activation en-
ergy of GP zone (118.80 kJ$ mol1), it is higher than that of h0
phase (105.74 kJ$ mol1), indicating that the microstructure
after solid solution quenching is mainly the nucleation point
of GP zone. When it is heated it grows up and is easier to
change into h0 phase. And the enthalpy in the peak tempera-
ture range of GP zone and h0 phase are 2.1 J/g and 3.2 J/g,
respectively. It indicates that h0 precipitate more than GP zone
because of the bigger enthalpy. At the same time, the disso-
lution activation energy of the GP zone is smaller than the
activation energy of the h0 phase, indicating that the GP zone is
more soluble.
Combining the kinetic parameters of GP zone, h0 phase and
h phase and according to T and t the transformation volume
fraction of the three phases can be determined (Eqs. (16)e(18)).


f ðGPÞ ¼ 1  exp  4:1014  1020 exp 1:4296  104 T t


f ðhÞ ¼ 1  exp  8:5324  10 12
exp 1:2725  104 T t


f ðh0 Þ ¼ 1  exp  6:8608  1031 exp 3:2946  104 T t
Taking the volume fraction for starting f ¼ 5% and ending
f ¼ 95% of the phase transition, the relationship between
temperature and time of each phase is obtained, and the TTT
curve is made (see Fig. 5(a)). Since the aging temperature and
time have different effects on the precipitation sequence and
volume fraction of the second phase of the AleZneMgeCu-Sc-
Zr-Ti aluminum alloy and make the hardness of the alloy is
different. Therefore, the TTT curves have been verified by the
age hardening characteristic curve of the alloy (see Fig. 5(b, c)).
Table 4 shows the peak hardness time and TTT curve calcu-
lation results (Eqs. (19)e(21)) of AleZneMgeCu-Sc-Zr-Ti alloy
at different aging temperatures.
.h i
1
TðGPÞ ¼ 1:4296  104 ln t  ln lnð1  f Þ þ 47:4630
.h i Acknowledgments
1
TðhÞ ¼ 1:2725  104 ln t  ln lnð1  f Þ þ 29:7749
.h i
1
Tðh0 Þ ¼ 3:2946  104 ln t  ln lnð1  f Þ þ 73:3059
451
3.4. Simulation results and experimental verification
By analyzing Table 4, we can find that the time required for Hp
at different aging temperatures is basically consistent with
the time required for h0 , which indicates that the aging pre-
cipitation formula agrees well with the actual situation and
can predict the precipitation strengthening time at different
aging temperatures. Referring to Fig. 5 and Table 4, we can find
that the time to reach the hardness peak decreases with the
increase of aging temperature, but the hardness peak value at
120  C is slightly higher than the value at 110  C with the in-
crease of temperature. Since the GP zone is favorably con-
verted to h0 at 120  C, and this temperature is also much lower
than the conversion temperature of h 0 to h, the maximum
hardness peak appears at this temperature. When the tem-
perature is higher than 120  C, the GP zone has a shorter aging
time for the conversion to h0 , but the higher temperature
provides more activation energy for h0 , which leads to the
conversion of h0 to h faster, which reduces the strength of the
alloy. Since the volume fraction of h is positively correlated
with the electrical electrical conductivity of the alloy, the op-
timum aging temperature and time of the alloy can be ob-
tained by the aging equation according to the desired alloy
properties.
4. Conclusions
According to the DSC curve of the alloy, TEM images and the
corresponding hardness and electrical conductivity, it is
concluded that both GP and h0 phases are strengthening
phases.
(16)
(1) The activation energies of GP zone, h0 phase and h phase
(17) are 118.80 kJ $mol1,105.74 kJ$ mol1 and
1
273.78 kJ$ mol respectively.
(18) (2) Combing the simulation and experiment, we obtained
the aging precipitation formulas and TTT curves, which
can be used to optimize the single-stage aging process
of AleZneMgeCu.
(3) The maximum hardness of this improved
AleZneMgeCu alloy appears at 160  C, not the common
120  C.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing
financial interests or personal relationships that could have
appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(19)
(20)
This study was funded by National Natural Science Founda-
(21) tion of China (Grant No. U1637601 and U1837207).
452 j o u r n a l o f m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h a n d t e c h n o l o g y 2 0 2 1 ; 1 0 : 4 4 5 e4 5 2

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