Abstract
The increasing demands for Al sheets with superior mechanical properties and excellent formability require a profound knowledge of the microstructure and texture evolution in the course of their production. The present study gives a comprehensive overview on the primary- and secondary phase formation in AlMg(Mn) alloys with varying Fe and Mn additions, including variations in processing parameters such as solidification conditions, homogenization temperature, and degree of cold rolling. Higher Fe alloying levels increase the primary phase fraction and favor the needle-shaped morphology of the constituent phases. Increasing Mn additions alter both the shape and composition of the primary phase particles, but also promote the formation of dispersoids as secondary phases. The size, morphology, and composition of primary and secondary phases is further affected by the processing parameters. The average dispersoid size increases significantly with higher homogenization temperature and large primary particles tend to fragment during cold rolling. The microstructures of the final soft annealed states reflect the important effects of the primary and secondary phase particles on their evolution. The results presented in this paper regarding the relevant secondary phases provide the basis for an in-depth discussion of the mechanisms underlying the microstructure formation, such as Zener pinning, particle stimulated nucleation, and texture evolution, which is presented in Part II of this study.
Highlights
In the past decades, the use of aluminum as a construction material strongly increased in various fields of application
The present study investigates the influence of secondary alloying elements Fe and Mn in a near 5182 aluminum alloy produced in laboratory scale
Primary and secondary phase fractions and composition were derived by the evaluation of multiple SEM pictures and feature (EDX) mappings
Summary
The use of aluminum as a construction material strongly increased in various fields of application. Depending on the alloying and micro-alloying elements, a wide range of combinations of materials properties exist. With regard to improving sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions of processes and technical applications, the use of aluminum alloys as replacement for materials with higher density is a common approach. The non-age-hardenable alloys typically show superb combinations of medium strength, corrosion resistance, and good formability [1]. The secondary alloying element Mn plays a key role in intermetallic phase formation. It affects both the processing and final properties of the alloys
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