Temperature and the ductility, deformation, and fracture of Al 7055

Abstract

In this study, an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy (7055) was deformed to failure in the T7751 microstructural condition in a laboratory air environment at ambient and elevated temperatures. Strength decreased with an increase in temperature with a concomitant improvement in ductility for both longitudinal and transverse orientations of the wrought alloy plate. No major change in macroscopic fracture mode was observed with the direction of testing. Tensile fracture on a microscopic scale revealed features reminiscent of locally ductile and brittle mechanisms. The mechanisms governing tensile ductility and fracture processes are discussed in light of the concurrent and mutually interactive influences of intrinsic microstructural effects, matrix-deformation characteristics, test temperature, and grain-boundary failure.