Synergetic effect of Er and Zr on the precipitation hardening of Al–Er–Zr alloy

• Published in: Scripta materialia Vol. 65; no. 7; pp. 592 - 595
• Main Authors: Wen, S.P., Gao, K.Y., Li, Y., Huang, H., Nie, Z.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2011
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aluminum alloy; Aluminum base alloys; Electron microscopy; Erbium; Hardness; Microhardness; Precipitation; Precipitation hardening; Zirconium; Precipitation; Zirconium; Erbium; Aluminum alloy
• ISSN: 1359-6462; 1872-8456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2011.06.033

The precipitation hardening of dilute Al–Er, Al–Zr and Al–Er–Zr alloys was investigated by microhardness measurements and transmission electron microscopy. The Al–0.04Er (at.%) alloy obtains its maximum aging hardness of 400
MPa due to the precipitation of Al
3Er. The Al–0.04Er–0.08Zr obtains a maximum hardness of 560
MPa, which is significant greater than that of the Al–Er and Al–Zr alloys. The synergetic effect of Er and Zr on the precipitation hardening of Al–Er–Zr alloys is discussed.