Precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu matrix nanocomposites: Effects of SiC nanoparticles addition and heat treatment

In this study, the SiC/Al-Zn-Mg-Cu nanocomposites were fabricated using high energy ball milling combined with spark plasma sintering (SPS) and hot extrusion. The microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated by utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transition electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis as well as tensile tests. The results showed that the as-extruded SiC/Al-Zn-Mg-Cu nanocomposite samples demonstrated a microstructure consisting of ultrafine α-Al grains, dispersed SiC nanoparticles and nano-scaled T phases probably formed by dynamic precipitation during extrusion. After T6 heat treatment, the coarsening of α-Al grains, dissolution of T phases and consequently the precipitation of fine η′ phases occurred, leading to a simultaneous increase of the strength and ductility. With increasing the content of SiC nanoparticles from 1 vol% to 3 vol%, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased from 456 and 528 MPa to 580 and 588 MPa (27.2% and 11.4% increase), respectively while the elongation to fracture decreased slightly from 11.8% to 10.2% (13.6% decrease). Various strengthening mechanism calculation results show that Orowan strengthening was mostly contributed to the improved strength of the T6 heat treated SiC/Al-Zn-Mg-Cu nanocomposites.