Effects of Degassing on the Microstructure, Chemistry, and Estimated Mechanical Properties of a Cryomilled Al-Mg Alloy

Abstract

Nanostructured aluminum alloys produced through cryomilling have generated interest due to their potential to create consolidated parts with high strength and low density. Degassing prior to consolidation minimizes adsorbed and absorbed volatiles, but is accompanied by microstructural changes such as grain growth, dislocation annihilation, and formation of dispersoids. These changes can influence the mechanical behavior of consolidated components. Cryomilled AA5083 was degassed at temperatures from 473 K to 773 K (200 °C to 500 °C) with a vacuum at or below 2.7 × 10−3 Pa. Grain size in the as-cryomilled powder (ranging from 21 to 34 nm) increased with higher degassing temperature and reached a maximum size of up to 70 to 80 nm. The dislocation density of 1.11 × 1015 m−2 in as-cryomilled powder decreased to 1.56 × 1014 m−2 for powder degassed at 773 K (500 °C). The Al6(MnFeCr) dispersoid formed when powders were degassed at or above 573 K (300 °C). Oxygen and nitrogen concentrations were unaffected by degassing; however, hydrogen concentration decreased with increasing degassing temperature to a minimum of 45 ± 3.16 ppm. Evolutions in composition and microstructure in cryomilled AA5083 were correlated to the strengthening mechanisms of grain size reduction (i.e., Hall–Petch), dislocation forest, and Orowan. However, strengthening by grain size reduction was the dominant strengthening mechanism.