Abstract:The microstructural evolution and composition distribution of an Al-Zn-Cu-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy during homogenization were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that severe dendritic segregation exists in Al-Zn-Cu-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy ingot. There are a lot of eutectic phases at grain boundary and the distribution of the main elements varies periodically along interdendritic region. The main eutectic phases at grain boundary are Al₇Cu₂Fe phase and T (Al₂Mg₃Zn₃). The residual phases are dissolved into the matrix gradually during homogenization with increasing temperature and prolonging holding time, which can be described by a constitutive equation in exponential function. The overburnt temperature of the alloy is 473.9 °C. The optimum parameters of homogenization are 470 °C and 24 h, which is consistent with the result of homogenization kinetic analysis.

Key words: Al-Zn-Cu-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy; homogenization; microstructural evolution; overburnt temperature; homogenization kinetics