Abstract:The Al-9Zn-2.8Mg-2.5Cu-xZr-ySc alloys (x=0, 0.15%, 0.15%; y=0, 0.05%, 0.15%), produced by low-frequent electromagnetic casting technology, were subjected to homogenization treatment, hot extrusion, solution and aging treatment. The effects of minor Sc and Zr addition on microstructure, recrystallization and properties of alloys were studied by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that Sc and Zr addition can refine grains of the as-cast alloy by precipitation of primary Al₃(Sc,Zr) particles formed during solidification as heterogeneous nuclei. Secondary Al₃(Sc,Zr) precipitates formed during homogenization treatment strongly pin the movement of dislocation and subgrain boundaries, which can effectively inhibit the alloys recrystallization. Compared with the alloy without Sc and Zr addition, the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy with 0.05% Sc and 0.15% Zr shows the increase in tensile strength and yield strength by 172 MPa and 218 MPa, respectively. Strengthening comes from the contributions of precipitation, substructure and grain refining.

Key words: aluminum alloy; low-frequent electromagnetic casting; inhibit recrystallization; primary Al₃(Sc,Zr) particles; secondary Al₃(Sc,Zr) particles; substructure strengthening; precipitation strengthening; grain refining