Struktura i własności mechaniczne prętów ze stopu AA7010 w stanach O i T6

The hot extruded rods of aluminum alloy AlZn6,43Mg2,23Cu1,78 (AA7010) were subjected to, in sequence, deformation by drawing, annealing to the O temper and precipitation hardening to the T6 temper. The samples of rods drawn with the variable strain value (area reduction of 5–67%), were annealed in the wide range of temperatures (300–465°C) and times (1–10 h). The applied annealing conditions activate recovery, recrystallization and grain growth processes. It was shown that recrystallization process of rods annealed to the O temper is controlled by a distribution and thermal stability of active phase η (MgZn2). The annealing at the temperatures lower than the temperature of active phase solubility limit (below 400°C) maintains a linear distribution of this phase precipitates. It hinders recrystallization fronts migration in radial direction of rods and leads to formation of grains with considerable shape anisotropy. The increase of annealing temperature results in significant acceleration of the active phase precipitates dissolution process, whereby a release of recrystallization fronts and in consequence formation of grains with appreciable lower shape anisotropy, as well as change of distribution and morphology of mentioned phase precipitates take place. Moreover, it was found that – despite considerable structural differences – strain value during drawing hardly influences strength and plastic properties of the rods in the O temper, as well as in the most cases in the T6 temper. The weak relationship between grain size and strength properties of Al and its alloys, as well as significant influence of hardening phases pre-precipitates (precipitates) type and distribution on mechanical properties of these alloys in the T6 temper were experimentally confirmed.