Effect of Solution Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Microhardness of 7050 Aluminum Alloy

Today, 7xxx aluminum alloys are widely used in aerospace and other fields due to their excellent properties such as low density, high specific strength, and good processing performance. The heat treatment process of 7xxx aluminum alloy is crucial in controlling the strengthening phases and grain size, which is a significant way to enhance the alloy’s performance. In this study, solution heat treatment tests of 7050 aluminum alloys were carried out at different temperatures, ranging from 440 °C to 470 °C, with a holding time ranging from 0.5 h to 8 h, using a DIL 805A thermomechanical test machine. The microstructural evolution during the solution heat treatment was characterized using an optical microscope (OM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The effects of the solution parameters on the alloy’s microhardness were analyzed using a digital Vickers microhardness tester. According to the ASTM E112-13 standard, The Anelli grain growth models were established to illustrate the grain size evolution during solution heat treatment, and a modified Anelli grain growth model was established. The results indicated that the grain size significantly increases with the increase in the solution heat treatment time and temperature. The Anelli grain growth model can illustrate the phenomenon of grain growth more accurately in the solution heat treatment process of 7050 aluminum alloy. It was found that prolonging the time and elevating the temperature of the solution heat treatment reduced the microhardness of the aluminum alloy because of the dissolution of the precipitates.