Evolution of the structure and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si alloys doped with transition and rare-earth metals after high-pressure torsion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54708/26587572_2026_8326132Keywords:
aluminum alloy, rare-earth elements, high-pressure torsion, strengthAbstract
Al-Mg-Si alloys are among the most widely used wrought aluminium alloys in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries due to their optimal combination of specific strength, processability, and corrosion resistance. However, the potential for improving their strength through conventional heat treatment has been largely exhausted. A promising approach is complex alloying with transition and rare-earth metals combined with high-pressure torsion (HPT). In this work, the effect of combined alloying with Cu, Ti, Mn, Sc, and Hf on the evolution of the structure and the set of mechanical properties of model Al-Mg-Si alloys after HPT was studied. Using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, it was found that the introduction of Sc and Hf combined with HPT provides the most intense dynamic grain refinement. Mechanical tests showed a twofold increase in ultimate tensile strength – from 278 to 720 MPa – with ductility decreasing to 2%. It is shown that the synergistic effect of Sc and Hf alloying followed by HPT allows achieving record strength values for this system.References
Khangholi S.N., Javidani M., Maltais A., et al. Review on recent progress in Al–Mg–Si 6xxx conductor alloys // Journal of Materials Research. 37, 670–691 (2022). DOI: 10.1557/s43578-022-00488-3.
Edwards G.A., Stiller K., Dunlop G.L., Couper M.J. The precipitation sequence in Al–Mg–Si alloys // Acta Materialia. 46(11), 3893 (1998). 10.1016/S1359-6454(98)00059-7.
Buha J., Lumley R.N., Crosky A.G., Hono K. Secondary precipitation in an Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy // Acta Materialia. 55(9), 3015 (2007). DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2007.01.006.
Andersen S.J., Zandbergen H.W., Jansen J., et al. The crystal structure of the β″ phase in Al–Mg–Si alloys // Acta Materialia. 46, 3283–3298 (1998). DOI: 10.1016/S1359-6454(97)00493-X.
Poole W.J., Wang X., Embury J.D., Lloyd D.J. The effect of manganese on the microstructure and tensile response of an Al-Mg-Si alloy // Materials Science and Engineering: A. 755, 307–317 (2019). ISSN 0921-5093. DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2019.03.015.
Gottstein G., Shvindlerman L.S. On the retardation of grain boundary motion by small particles // Scripta Materialia. 63, 1089–1091 (2010). DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2010.08.005.
Hundert O., Nes E., Ryum N. On the Zener drag–Addendum // Acta Metallurgica. 37, 129–133 (1989).
Wang S., Chen S., Matsuda K., et al. Effect of Mn or Fe addition on age-hardening behaviour of Al–Mg2Si // Alloys. 53, 1521–1528 (2012). DOI: 10.2320/matertrans. MAW201219.
Cong-Hui Lu, Xin-Ming Zhang, Jian-Guo Tang, et al. Effect of copper on precipitation and baking hardening behavior of Al-Mg-Si alloys // Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China. 24, 2289–2294 (2014). ISSN 1003-6326. DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(14)63346-X.
Remøe M.S., Marthinsen K., Westermann I., et al. The effect of alloying elements on the ductility of Al-Mg-Si alloys // Materials Science and Engineering: A. 693, 60–72 (2017). ISSN 921-5093, DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2017.03.078.
Ziyuan Zhao, Daoxiu Li, Xirui Yan, et al. Insights into the dual effects of Ti on the grain refinement and mechanical properties of hypoeutectic Al–Si alloys // Journal of Materials Science & Technology. 189, 44–59 (2024). ISSN 1005-0302. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2023.12.014.
Wu Y., Liao H., Lue C. Dynamic precipitation and recrystallization in Al-12,5 wt.%Si-0,6 wt.%Mg-0,1 wt.%Ti alloy during hot-rolling and their impacts on mechanical properties //Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 788, 125–135 (2019).
Zakharov V.V., Rostova T.D. Effect of scandium, transition metals, and impurities on the strengthening of aluminum alloys during solid-solution decomposition // Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov. 9, 12–19 (2007). (In Russian) [Захаров В.В., Ростова Т.Д. Влияние скандия, переходных металлов и примесей на упрочнение алюминиевых сплавов при распаде твердого раствора // МиТОМ. 9, 12–19 (2007)].
Aksenov D.A., Raab G.I., Asfandiyarov R.N., et al. Structural changes in the Cu-Ni-Si system alloy after ECAP at different temperatures // Materials. Technologies. Design. 3, 5–10 (2021). (In Russian) [Аксенов Д.А., Рааб Г.И., Асфандияров Р.Н. и др. Структурные изменения в сплаве системы Cu-Ni-Si после РКУП при разной температуре // Materials. Technologies. Design. 3, 5–10 (2021)]. DOI: 10.54708/26587572_2021_3465.
Improving mechanical properties of pure Zn by alloying with Mg and Zr and subsequent equal-channel angular pressing // Materials. Technologies. Design. 8, 32–43 (2026). (In Russian) Мартыненко Н.С., Темралиева Д.Р., Чистюхина Э.И. и др. Улучшение механических характеристик чистого Zn путем легирования Mg и Zr и последующего равноканального углового прессования // Materials. Technologies. Design. 8, 32–43 (2026)]. https://doi.org/10.54708/26587572_2026_812432.
Krajňák T., Janeček M., Minárik P., et al. Microstructure evolution in Cu–0.5 wt% Zr alloy processed by a novel severe plastic deformation technique of rotational constrained bending // Metals. 11(1), 63 (2021). DOI: 10.3390/met11010063.
Martynenko N.S., Chistyukhina E.I., Nikitin I.S., et al. The effect of rotary swaging on the microstructure and mechanical properties of brass L63 alloyed with Sn // Materials. Technologies. Design. 7, 40–50 (2025). (In Russian) [Мартыненко Н.С., Чистюхина Э.И., Никитин И.С. и др. Влияние ротационной ковки на микроструктуру и механические характеристики латуни Л63, легированной Sn // Materials. Technologies. Design. 7, 40–50 (2025)]. DOI: 10.54708/26587572_2025_732240.
Bochvar N.R., Rybalchenko O.V., Leonova N.P., et al. Effect of scandium and other transition metals on the recrystallization of Al-Mg2Si alloys after equal-channel angular pressing // Metally. 2, 31–35 (2021). (In Russian) [Бочвар Н.Р., Рыбальченко О.В., Леонова Н.П. и др. Влияние скандия и других переходных металлов на рекристаллизацию сплавов Al-Mg2Si после равноканального углового прессования // Металлы. 2, 31–35 (2021)].
Bochvar N.R., Rokhlin L.L., Rybalchenko O.V., et al. The effect of transition metals on the structure and hardening of Al-Mg-Si alloys after cold plastic deformation // Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 1431, 012050 (2020). DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1431/1/012050.
Bochvar N.R., Rybalchenko O.V., Tabachkova N.Yu., et al. Kinetics of phase precipitation in Al–Mg–Si alloys subjected to equal-channel angular pressing during subsequent heating // Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 881, 160583 (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.160583.
Polenok M.V., Khafizova E.D., Abdrakhmanova E.D., Islamgaliev R.K. Investigation of mechanical properties of Zn-Fe-Mg alloy after high pressure torsion // Materials. Technologies. Design. 4, 55–62 (2022). (In Russian) [Поленок М.В., Хафизова Э.Д., Абдрахманова, Э.Д., Исламгалиев Р.К. Изучение механических свойств сплава Zn-Fe-Mg после кручения под высоким давлением // Materials. Technologies. Design. 4, 55–62 (2022)]. https://doi.org/10.54708/26587572_2022_441055.
Bobruk E.V., Murashkin M.Y., Ramazanov I.A., et al. Low-temperature superplasticity and high strength in the Al 2024 alloy with ultrafine grains // Materials. 16(2), 727 (2023). DOI: 10.3390/ma16020727.
