Effects of heat treatment on the microstructure, texture and mechanical property anisotropy of extruded 2196 Al-Cu-Li alloy

Abstract

The mechanical properties and microstructures of the extruded 2196 Al-Cu-Li alloy plates under different heat treatment parameters are tested and characterized along different directions. It is found that the mechanical property anisotropy of 2196 Al-Li alloy is significantly affected by heat treatment. The anisotropy is mainly caused by the differences of grain morphology, microtexture, recrystallization degree and secondary particles characteristics in different directions. The specimens in 0° and 90°directions have high strength, while the specimen in 45° direction has the best ductility. The main microtexture of alloy are {111}<112>oriented A*1 and A*2 shear textures, and aging treatment has little effect on the grain morphology and microtexture. The decrease of mechanical property anisotropy after aging treatment is mainly due to the increase of number density and distribution uniformity of T1 phase. The elimination of PFZ and the increase of grain boundary strength are also conducive to the decrease of anisotropy. The dislocations introduced by pre-stretching is beneficial to the uniform precipitation of the fine phases, resulting in the optimal mechanical property homogeneity of the alloy. The ductility in different directions is also anisotropic, and the fracture mechanism changes from ductile to intergranular and cleavage fracture modes after heat treatment.