Influence of Fe-rich particles on microstructure evolution, texture and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloys

Abstract

The influence of Fe-rich particles on the microstructure evolution, texture and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloys was investigated by means of microstructure, texture and mechanical property analysis in the present study. The results show that Fe-rich particles have a significant influence on the microstructure evolution, texture, and final mechanical properties. Although both alloy sheets with different numbers of Fe-rich particles possess the similar microstructure including grain structure and fine particle distribution before solution treatment, the alloy sheet with a large number of Fe-rich particles possesses finer equiaxed grain structure in comparison with the alloy sheet with a medium number of Fe-rich particles after solution treatment. The solution treated alloy sheet with a medium number of Fe-rich particles is mainly comprised of CubeND {001}<310> orientation, while the solution treated alloy sheet with a large number of Fe-rich particles possesses weaker texture consisting of CubeND and Goss {110}<001> orientations. Fe-rich particles are beneficial to improve yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and r value, whereas reduce n and Δr values. Finally, the effect of Fe-rich particles on recrystallization microstructure and texture was analyzed.