Microstructure and mechanical properties of low frequency electromagnetic casting 7075 aluminum alloy

Abstract

This work explores the microstructure of low frequency electromagnetic casting (LFEC) 7075 aluminum alloys and investigates the effect of heat treatment process on its mechanical properties via the mechanical properties test, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the grains of LFEC ingot were finer and more evenly distributed than that of the conventional direct chill cast (DC) ingots. The microstructure of LFEC ingot extruded kept their original as-cast structure with small and fine grains. With the same extrusion ratio, the average grain diameters of LFEC and conventional DC extruded were about 10 and 20 μm, respectively. LFEC extruded also had a better aging property, since the regime of T6 treatment peak value aging was at 120 ◦C for 24 h, the tensile strength and hardness (HV) of the LFEC extruded were 673.50 MPa and 194.62, respectively, which were all higher than those of the conventional DC extruded, indicating that the process regime can be applied in the industrial production.